3 Foods You Might Not Know Can Cause Cavities

Your diet is essential when it comes to preserving your dental health. One of the most problematic snacks is sugary treats, as eating these can make you more likely to get cavities. However, candies and pastries aren’t the only meals that can harm your pearly whites. Keep reading from your dentist in Midland about three surprising foods that can also cause cavities!

#1: Saltine Crackers

Have you ever enjoyed a warm bowl of soup with a dab of saltine crackers to help fill your stomach? While these snacks have little-to-no sugar content, they consist of processed starches and carbohydrates. These components are just as detrimental to your tooth enamel as sugars are. They excite the natural bacteria in your mouth, stimulating them to grow and eat away at the surface of your smile. Saltine crackers are also an issue because they get turned into fine powder when you eat them, meaning they can cover every area in your mouth. This can make it challenging to brush the pieces off your teeth, making them susceptible to cavities.

#2: Raisins

Since raisins are dried grapes, they can provide numerous nutritional benefits like most other fruits. Not only are they filled with minerals, vitamins, and healthy fibers, but they can also help with increasing your iron levels, improving digestion, and strengthening your bone tissue. The problem is that they’re rich in sugar content, similar to candies and sodas. They’re also rather sticky, making them more difficult to remove from your smile and increasing the chance that you might leave them on your teeth for too long.

#3: Alcoholic Beverages

Although some alcoholic drinks have starches, the main issue with them is that they cause dry mouth. This will interfere with your saliva production, which is crucial for naturally washing away the bacteria from your oral cavity. By reducing it with alcoholic beverages, you can risk germs growing much faster and making you more vulnerable to tooth decay and cavities. For this reason, it’s important to drink plenty of water to prevent drying out your mouth.

While several foods can be harmful to your smile, it doesn’t mean you should go without enjoying your favorite meals. Be sure to reduce how frequently you consume sugars and starches, and maintain proper dental hygiene to preserve your pearly whites. And if you have any questions along the way, your dentist is happy to help!

About the Author

Dr. Laura Philipps earned her dental doctorate from Tufts University and regularly seeks continuing education to expand her knowledge and skills in the field. She’s also a proud affiliate of several groups like the American Equilibration Society and the American Academy for Oral Systemic Health. She offers multiple high-quality services, including dental checkups and cleanings to help protect your smile in the long run. If you’d like to schedule a visit, check out her website or call 432-570-4433.