I’m a dentist – these are the 5 foods I’d never eat
They have begged us for years not to overdo the sweet foods and juices.
But it’s not just sweets and fizzy drinks that are driving fear among dentists.
Here, a dentist tells MailOnline the five lesser-known foods and drinks they would recommend everyone avoid…
It’s not just sweets and fizzy drinks that are bad for your teeth, there are certain foods that dentists steer clear of for fear of causing tooth decay, enamel cracks and stains
Turmeric lattes
In addition to giving coffee an extra energy boost, the herb is also believed to have healing properties.
Turmeric lattes have gained a cult following in mostly “hipster” cafes, but the unlikely combination of nut milk and pressed turmeric root isn’t great for your teeth, especially if you want to keep them pearly white.
According to London-based cosmetic dentist and founder of Bespoke Smile, Dr.
The combination of nut milk and pressed turmeric root is not very good for your teeth, especially if you want to keep them pearly white. Dentists say they can stain your teeth
And it’s even worse if you have veneers.
He told MailOnline: ‘All teeth are prone to staining and discoloration, and turmeric can be especially problematic for people who have recently had teeth whitened or veneers.
“After a whitening treatment, your teeth may be more vulnerable to staining and while porcelain veneers should not be stained by turmeric, your natural teeth may be and since your veneers match your natural teeth, your veneers will stand out if staining occurs.”
The colored pigment in turmeric binds to your teeth, causing discoloration and discoloration, according to Dr. Jethwa, which could be tooth aging in particular.
Toffees
Fudge may be delicious, but they’re loaded with sugar and unsurprisingly aren’t a favorite with dentists.
“I would never eat toffee because it’s terrible for the teeth,” says Dr. Jethwa.
Sugar is one of the leading causes of tooth decay, according to the NHS.
Toffees are terrible for your teeth. Experts say the sugar causes tooth decay and their hard and chewy texture can lead to flakes in the tooth enamel
Acid is produced when bacteria in your mouth break down sugar. This acid dissolves the tooth surface, the first stage of tooth decay.
But it’s not just the sugar content of fudge that Dr. Jethwa dislikes, but also their sticky and hard texture.
It’s easy to crack or chip a tooth while biting into a toffee, Dr. Jethwa explains.
He said: ‘The fact that they’re so chewy doesn’t just mean they stick to your teeth longer than most foods, which means they’re more likely to cause tooth decay.
“Its sticky texture can also be a big problem for people with fillings, crowns, composite bonds or braces, as they can loosen or even pull out.”
Crackling
The crunchy snack bar and roast dinner are high in saturated fat.
But fat-fried and fried pork rinds aren’t just bad for your waistline—it’s terrible for your teeth, too.
Dentists say the meat dish can chip your teeth.
‘Broken and cracked teeth are very common and something that becomes even more common with age as the risk of tooth decay increases,’ says Dr Jethwa.
Cracks in your teeth can be caused by many things, but more often than not, crunchy foods like pork cracklings are to blame
Research suggests that the prevalence of cracked teeth is about 80 percent in people over the age of 40, according to Dr. Jethwa.
He said: ‘I see a large number of patients who want to treat teeth that are chipped and cracked.
“Sometimes people don’t even realize their tooth is cracked, but experience sensitivity in that area, especially when exposed to hot or cold temperatures.”
Cracks in your teeth can be caused by many things, but crunchy foods are usually to blame.
He said: ‘Cracks are usually due to bite problems, but are also often caused by eating foods such as crackling or biting on a popcorn kernel, which is why I try to avoid all of these.
“Particles from these crunchy foods can also get stuck in the grooves of your teeth, causing tooth decay over time.”
Olives
Rich in antioxidants and vitamin E, olives can be a healthy snack.
But you may want to watch out for the ones with rocks in them.
If you accidentally bite into a pit, they can damage your teeth.
Dr. Jethwa said: ‘Most of these cracks go unnoticed because dentists are not trained to recognize them, until postgraduate education is not part of regular training.
“In fact, it’s such a serious problem in the UK that I have an academy that trains dentists.”
But the older you get, the weaker your teeth become.
He said: ‘Age plays an important role here.
“As we age, our teeth become weaker due to their constant wear and tear.”
It’s not just olives, all fruits with pits can damage your teeth, from cherries and dates to peaches.
gob stopper
Made almost entirely of sugar and rock hard, these sweet treats are a dentist’s nightmare.
Dr. Jethwa says the hard and sugary candy is a “terrible combination for the teeth” and says he would “avoid this one at all costs.”
They can cause cracks, chips and tooth decay.
Dr. Jethwa said: ‘The fact that they are designed to stay in the mouth for a long time means that the sugar is exposed directly to the teeth for a longer period of time, causing tooth decay and cavities.
“Also because gobstoppers are so hard they’re very likely to cause cracked, chipped, and broken teeth.”