Many people believe that the foods and beverages they consume on a daily basis have no effect on the health of their teeth and gums. The truth, however, is the exact reverse. A nutritious diet can help your body get the vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients it needs.

If you want to have healthy teeth and gums, you must practice good dental hygiene, visit a dentist twice a year, and eat a well-balanced diet. This means you should avoid the following foods and drinks that can damage your teeth and gums.

1. Sour candy

It should come as no surprise that confectionery is bad for your teeth. However, sour candy includes various types of acids that are more difficult on your teeth. Moreover, because they're chewy, they adhere to your teeth for a longer period of time, increasing the likelihood of decay. If you're craving something sweet, try a square of chocolate, which you can devour fast and wash away effortlessly.

2. Sugary and carbonated drinks

Sugary sodas, juices, energy drinks, and milkshakes are quite bad beverages for your oral cavity. They wash your teeth in sticky, sweet liquids that are also acidic. When the acid level in our mouth falls below a pH of 5.5, our teeth begin to deteriorate, and sodas often have a pH of 3 to 4. Other carbonated drinks, such as seltzers, are acidic as well. So are coffees and alcoholic beverages, which are frequently accompanied by sweet syrups and mixers.

3. Citrus juices and fruits

Unquestionably, citrus fruits and juices belong to a healthy diet. However, if you consume a lot of citruses, the acid in the fruit can erode away at the enamel of your teeth, rendering them prone to infection and cavities. Using a straw when drinking juice will allow some of the acid to skip your teeth. And wait at least 30 minutes before cleaning your teeth after eating or drinking anything acidic.

4. Ice

You'd be shocked how many people believe that ice is beneficial to their teeth. After all, it's made of water and has no sugar or other chemicals. Chewing on hard items, on the other hand, might expose your teeth to a dental emergency and destroy enamel. That's why it is better to break the habit and consume water in its natural form.

5. Snacks and crisps

Chips have a texture that becomes "gummy" after chewing. The resultant material sticks around in your mouth. Crisps are starchy and can become caught in your teeth, allowing acid-producing bacteria to damage your teeth and increase your risk of dental decay. The starch in crisps converts to sugar, which becomes stuck between your teeth and feeds plaque and bacteria, eventually leading to cavities.

6. Dried fruit

Although some dried fruits look to be nutritious snacks, others, such as apricots, prunes, and figs, are sticky. They stick to your teeth and leave a lot of sugar behind. This is not to say you shouldn't eat them at all. However, you should rinse your mouth with water, brush, and floss afterward. However,  fresh fruit is always preferable to dried produce.

7. Alcohol

Many people may be aware that consuming alcohol isn't very healthy. But did you know that drinking causes your mouth to dry out? A dry mouth lacks saliva, which is necessary for tooth health. Saliva keeps food particles from clinging to your teeth and wipes them away. It even aids in the treatment of early indicators of tooth decay, gum disease, and other oral diseases. 

8. Sauce for pasta

Tomatoes are healthy, but you should be mindful that they are quite acidic. And when you top your spaghetti with a tomato-based pasta sauce, you're giving your tongue a double whammy. The acidic tomato sauce dissolves tooth enamel, while the carbohydrates in the pasta feed the germs that cause cavities.

The condition of your teeth and gums depends on various factors. The most significant of them include proper oral hygiene, a healthy diet, and regular dental check-ups. However, many people forget that their bad habits can also have a dramatic impact on their oral cavities. Some bad habits can't directly damage your teeth and gums, while others can contribute to the development of oral issues. In this article, we have gathered five bad habits that can significantly affect your oral health

1. Smoking

Smoking is deemed one of the most aggressive and harmful habits that have numerous negative effects on the condition of your teeth and gums. The most common of them include bad breath, tooth discoloration, gum recession, and tartar accumulation.

 Additionally, smoking can increase your risk of developing gum disease and oral cancer. You should also know that chewing tobacco and recreational drug use can also worsen the condition of your oral cavity. That's why it is better to get rid of such a harmful habit as soon as possible.

2. Drinking alcohol

There are many types of alcoholic beverages and each of them can have a negative impact on your teeth and gums. For example, strong alcohol dries out your mouth and decreases saliva production. The main problem is that saliva helps flush away the bacteria and food particles from your mouth and a lack of saliva can lead to bacteria overgrowth. 

Wine usually contains a lot of acids that soften and remove your tooth enamel. Moreover, if you tend to drink red wine, you should know that it can stain your teeth due to the high concentration of pigments and acids. 

3. Coffee addiction

Coffee addiction is an extremely common problem for many people all over the world. If you drink a lot of coffee, you expose your teeth to acids since coffee is an acidic drink. Additionally, coffee contains ingredients called tannins that can stain your teeth and make your smile look unsightly. 

That’s why many people with coffee addiction often visit a dentist for teeth whitening. Increased coffee consumption can also remove calcium from your body that is necessary for your teeth and bones to function properly. That's why it is recommended to reduce coffee consumption or at least have it with milk to supply your body with calcium.

4. Having a sweet tooth

People who have a sweet tooth are more likely to develop tooth decay, gum recession, enamel wear, and gum disease. This is because sweets are packed with sugar that feeds on the bacteria and creates a perfect environment for them to live and multiply. 

During their vital activity, these bacteria produce acids that remove your tooth enamel and irritate gums. If you want to have a healthy oral cavity it is extremely important to limit sugar intake. Additionally, you can rinse your mouth with water after eating sweets to remove sugar and food particles.

5. Constant snacking

Constant snacking may seem a harmless habit that can affect only your hips and belly. But the truth is that foods that constantly fill your mouth can lead to bacteria overgrowth. 

As mentioned above, an increased number of bacteria can lead to various oral issues. If you can't get rid of this habit, try to snack on crunchy vegetables and fruits since they increase saliva production, massage gums, and help remove the bacteria from your mouth. 

The bottom line

Even though it can be quite difficult to get rid of bad habits, you should understand that maintaining a healthy lifestyle can have lots of positive outcomes. Keeping your teeth and gums healthy can help improve your well-being and self-esteem since you can smile freely and sincerely every time you want.

Joe, the dragon, does not like to brush his teeth so each night he does not. His breath is so bad his becomes the smelliest in the family. George, his boy, decides to set up a contest to get Joe to brush his teeth. Will it work?

This is the cutest story about good oral hygiene without being preachy. The illustrations are fabulous. The tale is told through rhyme. I enjoyed this book so much. I love Joe! Perfect for your 2-6 year olds who are learning to read.