If you are looking to perfect your smile for the new year, remember to brush twice daily and floss daily as well. Although these daily oral health care habits are great for protecting our teeth, it’s just as important to prevent harmful materials from ever being present in our mouths to begin with. Some foods can be broken down into harmful acids and begin damaging our teeth and gums long before we have a chance to brush or floss them away.

Feed your mouth healthy foods, not harmful ones. Avoid the following:

Sugary Sweets: Sugar is used by bad bacteria in our mouths and converted into acids which can eat away at our tooth enamel. Foods packed with sugar include candy, soft drinks, juices, cookies, cakes, sports drinks, and various snacks.

Fermentable carbohydrates: Fermentable carbohydrates are carbs that be broken down in our mouths into acids that can eat away at our tooth enamel. These include nearly all types of sugar such as high fructose corn syrup as well as starchy items such as donuts and white bread.

Sticky or Hard Snacks: Sticky candy such as taffy or gummies, along with hard candy such as candy canes and lollipops can damage our teeth or can be difficult to remove via daily cleaning habits. Other easily stuck foods in our mouths include popcorn, various meat products, caramels, peanut butter, and jelly.

Acidic Foods: Many types of sour candy have a pH level comparable to battery acid, so avoidance of them is a must. In addition, even some healthy foods can be extremely acidic, such as lemons and oranges, so be sure to eat them with meals to dilute the acids in them.

Don’t let bad habits ruin your smile. If you need an oral exam or professional cleaning by our dentists at [practice_name] or would like to book an appointment with Dr. [doctor_name], call us at [phone], to schedule a visit to our office in [city], [state]. We look forward to making your smile the best it can be!