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8 of the Worst Foods & Drinks for Your Teeth

Oral Health Tips

July 21, 2025

Admin

On the blog, we’ve talked about foods that are beneficial for whitening your teeth, foods that you should avoid following wisdom teeth or foods that you should and shouldn’t eat with dentures. In this blog post, we’ll discuss what foods you should avoid for the overall health of your teeth.

These foods were selected because they can lead to more cavities, halitosis, also known as bad breath, or tooth decay. Learn more about why each food or drink is harmful to your teeth.

Acidic Fruits

Acidic fruits such as oranges, lemons, limes and grapefruit should all be consumed in moderation. There are other sneaky fruits like grapes and pineapple that are highly acidic as well. These acidic fruits can wear down the enamel on your teeth. Enamel cannot be repaired so when it is worn down it makes your teeth more susceptible to tooth decay.

Alcohol

Alcohol should be consumed in moderation. Alcoholic drinks decrease saliva production in your mouth. Saliva helps to move harmful bacteria out of your mouth. If this bacterium isn’t regularly removed from your mouth, your mouth becomes dry and therefore is more susceptible to cavities.

Coffee & Tea

Most of the world starts their morning with a coffee or tea, but that doesn’t mean it’s great for your teeth. Depending on how a person consumes their coffee or tea, it can be extremely sugary or acidic. Additionally, coffee and tea can easily stain your teeth.

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Ice

Chewing on ice can be harmful to your teeth! Ice easily causes chips or cracks in your teeth. Plus, if your teeth are sensitive, ice can be painful to chew on.

Pickled Foods

Vinegar, which is often the main ingredient for a picked food, can also be highly acidic. Again, these highly acidic foods can damage your teeth’s enamel. Pickled foods can also easily stain your teeth. If you choose to eat pickled foods, it is best to pair them with less acidic foods such as beans and lentils or cheese.

Starchy Foods

Starchy foods, especially those made from refined starches, break down into simple sugar when chewed. The sugar then feeds harmful bacteria in your mouth and can produce acids that erode tooth enamel and cause cavities.

Sticky Foods

Sticky foods stick to your teeth and these types of foods including dried fruit, chewy candies and even granola bars, are typically high in sugar. Due to their sticky nature, the sugar in them stay on your teeth long after you finish chewing. The prolonged exposure to sugar increases the chances of cavities forming over time.

Sugary Drinks

Sugary drinks can be very harmful to your teeth. This is not limited to pop either. Sugary drinks can include sports drinks, fruit juices, lemonades and energy drinks. These drinks are full of sugar but some can also be acidic and break down your tooth enamel.

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It is very difficult to avoid all foods and drinks that are bad for your teeth. With that being said, it is important to make sure you drink plenty of water after consuming these foods and drinks. Doing so will help wash away any residue or even some of the sugars or acid left behind from them items. If possible, brushing and flossing is also recommended. When consuming drinks on this list, it is recommended to use a straw to help decrease the negative impacts on your teeth. Another option to help is chewing sugar-free gum. This helps to increase saliva production and help move bacteria out of your mouth to help prevent cavities.

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