At Uxbridge Dental Care, we’re passionate about helping you maintain a healthy smile for life. While brushing, flossing, and regular dental checkups are essential, what you eat plays a major role in your oral health. Some foods may seem harmless or even healthy but can wreak havoc on your teeth if consumed too often.
Here’s our list of the Top 10 Worst Foods for Your Teeth, and why you might want to rethink your choices.
1. Sticky Sweets & Candies
Think toffees, caramels, and gummy bears. These cling to your teeth and give cavity-causing bacteria the perfect environment to thrive. Plus, they’re hard to remove—even with brushing.
Tip: If you indulge, rinse your mouth or brush your teeth afterward.
2. Pop & Carbonated Drinks
Regular or diet, fizzy, carbonated drinks are highly acidic and loaded with sugar. The acid erodes enamel while the sugar feeds bacteria. Double trouble for your teeth!
Alternative: Opt for water, milk, or sugar-free herbal teas.
3. Dried Fruit
It may seem like a healthy snack, but dried fruits like raisins and apricots are sticky, sugary, and can lodge in crevices in your teeth—similar to candy.
Tip: Rinse with water or brush after eating dried fruit.
4. Citrus Fruits
Oranges, lemons, and grapefruits are healthy in moderation, but their high acid content can erode enamel over time—especially if you sip citrus juices throughout the day.
Advice: Drink citrus juices through a straw and follow up with water.
5. White Bread & Refined Carbs
Refined carbohydrates break down into sugars quickly. Soft white bread can also become gummy in your mouth, sticking to teeth and feeding plaque bacteria.
Alternative: Whole grain options are less sticky and break down more slowly.
6. Ice
Chewing ice may seem harmless, after all, it’s just frozen water; but it can crack or chip your teeth and damage enamel.
Rule of Thumb: Ice is for cooling drinks, not for chewing.
7. Alcohol
Alcohol dries out the mouth, reducing saliva production. Saliva is essential for washing away food particles and neutralizing acids.
Tip: Drink water between alcoholic beverages to stay hydrated.
8. Potato Chips
Crunchy but starchy, chips break down into sugars and can get stuck between teeth, promoting plaque build-up.
Reminder: Flossing is especially important after snacking on snacks like potato chips, nachos and popcorn.
9. Tomato-Based Sauces
Tomatoes are acidic and can weaken enamel—especially in the form of ketchup, pasta sauce, or pizza sauce, which are often paired with carbs.
Protect Your Teeth: Rinse your mouth after eating tomato-heavy meals.
10. Coffee & Tea (with Sugar)
These drinks stain your teeth, and when sweetened will add to your sugar intake. Coffee can also dry out your mouth, reducing saliva flow.
Pro Tip: Drink water after your cup of tea or coffee to wash away residue.
Final Thoughts from Uxbridge Dental Care
It’s not just about cutting out these foods entirely—moderation and good oral hygiene can make a big difference. When you do enjoy these treats, follow up with proper brushing, flossing, and rinsing with water. And of course, don’t skip your regular dental checkups!
📅 Book your next appointment with Uxbridge Dental Care today—we’re here to help you protect your smile for years to come.