A dentist reveals 8 foods and drinks that are worse for your teeth than candy
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We’ve had it drilled into our heads since we were kids: If you eat too much candy, you will have a mouth full of cavities the next time you go to the dentist. It turns out that’s not quite true.
We spoke to Dr. Mark Burhenne of AsktheDentist.com to learn the truth about what causes cavities and which foods and drinks to avoid. Surprisingly, they’re not all sweets.
"Sugar isn’t the cause of tooth decay; acid is," Dr. Burhenne said, explaining that when you eat something with sugar, bacteria that naturally reside in your mouth consume this sugar as well.
"Bacteria’s waste product is acid, so after [the bacteria] have a meal, they excrete acid. Acid is what causes problems for teeth. Acid decalcifies or demineralizes tooth enamel by taking away its structure, creating decay."
Read on to learn about the surprising foods and drinks that may be ruining your teeth.
Saltines
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"Saltine crackers are worse than candy for your teeth because they’re a fermentable and highly processed starch," Dr. Burhenne said. "Many people don’t realize that most crackers are highly processed and contain genetically engineered ingredients, essentially increasing the glycemic index and making the food more cariogenic (cavity-causing)."
Goldfish
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"Ever notice how saltine crackers or Goldfish become sticky in your mouth as you’re chewing them?" he asked. "Even better for the bacteria, that sticky goo gets stuck between your teeth and the bacteria can feast for even longer," he said, adding that he doesn’t recommend any kind of white cracker as a healthy snack for kids.
Instead, Dr. Burhenne suggests serving kids healthy fruits and vegetables, almonds, or squares of dark chocolate.
Dried fruit
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Dr. Burhenne explained that when fruit is dried, all of its water is removed, causing the naturally present sugars to become "extremely concentrated."
"This means that dried fruits act like a sticky caramel in your mouth. Their gumminess clings to teeth just like candy, and traps cavity causing bacteria and sugars on the teeth," he said.
See the rest of the story at Business Insider
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- Here’s what it’s actually like to get the ‘recommended’ amount of exercise each week
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