Oral hygiene is a vital component of personal hygiene. Aside from maintaining a good regimen of good oral hygiene, brushing your teeth, and flossing regularly, the food you eat is the most significant contributor to your teeth and gum health.

To maintain a good sense of oral hygiene, you may need to alter your diet. Your diet must incorporate hygiene that provides cavity protection and enamel reinforcement while actively avoiding food that deteriorates oral hygiene.

Deteriorating oral hygiene can be detrimental to your confidence; it may cause cavities, dull teeth, missing teeth, and smelly breath. If you are having trouble keeping a good oral schedule, make sure to visit the nearest specialist cosmetic dentists in your area.

Consider these five foods that you must avoid to sustain teeth and gum health.

Candy

Unsurprisingly candy is the first on this list. Hard and soft candy is sticky and can get stuck in your teeth, leading to cavities and rotting teeth. Chewy candy of bubblegum is worse than regular candy as they are even more challenging to get rid of between your teeth.

Sour candy contains more acidity and hence creates breeding space for plaque and bacteria growth in your mouth.

Carbonated Drinks

Drinks such as cold drinks, soda, and energy drinks are filled with sugar, the leading cause of cavities between 5 and 19-year-olds in the US. Holes in your teeth lead to tooth decay and possibly more severe conditions such as cracked and missing teeth.

These fizzy drinks also contain large amounts of phosphoric and citric acid, which break down and wear away tooth enamel.

Alcohol

Alcohol is highly acidic, and it dries out your mouth by halting saliva production. Saliva is needed to break down food and wash away food particles that may get stuck between your teeth and lead to plaque build-up and ultimate tooth decay. More than that, saliva also can restore early tooth decay, gum disease, and other oral infections.

Ice Cubes

You may assume that eating ice cubes is healthy because they are made entirely of water; however, ice cubes are rough substances that rub against your teeth and may cause enamel damage.

Chewing hard substances make your teeth and mouth more susceptible to damage such as chipping or cracking of teeth, as well as loosened crowns.

Citrus

Citrus foods such as lemons, oranges, and grapefruits are stacked with vitamin C. Their high acidic content erodes the enamel and makes the teeth more susceptible to decay.

Citrus fruits contain antioxidants that are good for the body. It is recommended to eat these fruits in moderation and rinse your mouth after consumption.

Although it may be impossible to avoid eating the food items mentioned above, it is advisable to be cautious of the harmful effects of these foods on your teeth and gum hygiene. Neglecting these facts may cause you more harm. Your teeth will be more susceptible to tooth decay, gum and teeth sensitivity, and even more severe impacts such as missing or cracked teeth.