Many people know that candies and all sugary foods cause tooth decay but some people are not aware that even fruits can cause damage to your teeth. Brushing and flossing at least twice a day will reduce the damage caused to your teeth and will keep your teeth healthy. But there are certain foods which cause enough damage to warrant extra cleanings.

Sugar and acid are the two main elements which tarnish your pearly whites. Sugar contains sucrose which feeds over a million bacteria inside your mouth. Acids are found mainly in fruits like the citrus acid which are found in fruits such as oranges, grapefruit, and lemons. Natural acids can be washed away by drinking water. Ironically, brushing the teeth just after eating acidic foods will cause more damage to your teeth. After consuming acidic foods, you are supposed to wait for an hour before brushing. There are several food items which cause tooth decay and here, there is a list of 10 foods which you must be careful while eating.

• Apples– Apples contain acid and they are hard on the enamel. It is said that an apple a day keep a doctor away. But in this case, an apple a day will keep your dentist on the speed dial. There are no issues in eating apples but do not forget to rinse your mouth with mouthwash or water shortly after.
• Hard candies- Not only the sugar in the candy is the cause for the decay but also the hard ones are harmful as we tend to hold them in our mouths for a longer time.
• Bread– They are sticky and gets in between the teeth and apart from that some bread contains sugar and should be avoided.
• Peanut butter– they are sugary and sticky which makes them adhere to the teeth and causes decay. Buy natural peanut butters with no sugar content.
• Pickled vegetables– Pickles are made with vinegar which is an acetic acid and often contains sugar as well. Though the vegetables are healthy, the vinegar content in the pickle can damage your teeth. This can be avoided by drinking water with your meal.
• Popcorn– This food item will get stuck in between your teeth and will cultivate more bacteria in that place.
• Jelly– Just like the peanut butter, jelly also contains sugar and are quite sticky. If it is not washed away soon, the food particle will encourage the growth of bacteria and plaque in that area.
• Meat– Meat usually gets stuck between the teeth and some meat contains sugar which is used as a preservative. The amount of food substance may not be very high but the food which sits between the teeth will cause tooth decay.
• Diet soda– The diet soda does not contain sugar content but the acidity is very high which makes it the worst product for the teeth.
• Salad dressing– Vinegar and sugar are used for the flavoring the food item. The salad is very necessary for a balanced diet but the dressings can harm your teeth.

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