It’s not just sugar that puts you at risk of dental disasters

Luisa Metcalfe discovers the surprising snacks and drinks that can cause problems for your teeth

Enamel is the hardest substance in the human body, but, as many of us know to our cost, our teeth may be strong but far from invulnerable. Eating chocolates and sweets can lead to decay, grazing all day keeps teeth under attack from acid and sugar, while grinding at night can weaken them so much that simply biting on a hard chunk of granola can cause them to crack.

“Dental decay and gum disease are on the rise, and access to an NHS dentist is at all-time low so it’s more important than ever to look after our mouths,” says Dr Ben Atkins, a dentist in Manchester and trustee of the Oral Health Foundation.

“This can involve having a good hygiene routine at home, but it also means avoiding foods and drinks that can potentially cause harm.”

So which snacks and drinks are most risky for our teeth? Dr Atkins and dental implant surgeon and lecturer Dr Vikas Prinja reveal the biggest culprits.

DRIED FRUIT

It’s the go-to ‘healthy’ snack for children and adults alike, but dried fruit isn’t always the best option for our teeth.

“Dried fruit is incredibly sticky and has a lot of sugar in it,” says Dr Prinja. “This can lead to a higher rate of tooth decay.

“Avoid snacking on it throughout the day as your teeth will be under ‘attack’ from the sugar for hours at a time.

“Instead, make sure you eat it as part of a meal and help your mouth recover by rinsing with water or using zero alcohol mouthwash afterwards.”

ICE

It may provide a satisfying crunch, but munching on ice is one of the worst things we can do to our teeth.

“Not only can they chip, crack or break your teeth, but crunching ice cubes can also increase tooth sensitivity, especially if you have receding gums or exposed dentine,” says Dr Atkins.

Dr Prinja adds: “It can also cause microfractures in the enamel of the tooth, weakening it so that when you bite on something relatively innocuous, it will crack.”

WHITE WINE

You might think you’re doing your pearly whites a favour by choosing white wine over red, but it’s still no friend to your teeth.

“White wine is quite acidic, more so than red wine,” says Dr Prinja. “Acid can dry your mouth and contribute to tooth wear, which is called acid erosion of enamel. If you have thinner enamel you get tooth sensitivity. “Alcohol also leads to dry mouth so there’s less saliva, which means there’s more gum disease and tooth decay,” he says. He advises drinking water or rinsing with zero-alcohol mouthwash afterwards, adding, “Don’t brush for at least 30 minutes as you’ll be brushing acids into the teeth.”

CRISPS

They are the nation’s favourite savoury snack loved for their crunch and more-ish flavours, yet few of us worry that crisps are harming our teeth. However, Dr Prinja warns: “Crisps are carbohydrates so when they’re broken down they turn into sugars and the more sugars there are in the mouth, the higher the risk of tooth decay.

“When they’re broken down they become mush and they can linger in the crevices of your mouth and in and around the mountain range that is the biting surface of your teeth.”

HOT WATER AND LEMON

This so-called healthy drink could be doing more harm than good to your gnashers.

“Lemon is particularly acidic, and if you drink lemon and water for many years it can wear the enamel down,” says Dr Prinja. “This can expose the dentine underneath, giving teeth a yellowish appearance.”

To enjoy the health benefits while protecting your teeth, he advises drinking water and lemon down in one, or drinking it through a straw.

POPCORN

It is the ultimate movie night snack, but don’t forget the dangers lurking at the bottom of the bowl.

“If you bite on an unpopped popcorn kernel, it can put an isolated high pressure point on your tooth,” says Dr Prinja. “If you catch a hard kernel in an awkward position, all of your biting force will be focused and you

can crack your teeth.”

GRANARY BREAD

Can an innocent slice of bread really put your teeth at risk? The issue is that granary bread, which also contains wholegrains, is one of the most common reasons for visits to the dentist, says Dr Atkins. “It’s great to try and eat healthy foods, this includes swapping processed white bread for healthier granary or wholemeal bread,” he says. “But biting on a husk or seed can cause broken teeth, lost fillings and gum trauma.”

BEEF JERKY

Popular among gym-goers and people on high-protein diets, beef jerky might appear to be a toothfriendly option but these are very hard snacks and take considerable force to chew to break down, says Dr Atkins.

“This extreme pressure can even cause straining of the jaw and make the muscles in the face sore.”

And as well fibres becoming caught in crevices of the teeth, which can increase the risk of decay, “lost fillings and broken teeth aren’t unusual either,” he warns.

Watch out for kernels in popcorn as they can crack your teeth

SPORTS DRINKS

While they may be good for your muscles, these drinks won’t be doing your teeth a favour. “Unfortunately, sports drinks can contain up to 21 teaspoons of sugar, so when we consume them we are at very real risk of dental decay,” says Dr Atkins.

Dr Prinja also notes: “You tend not to drink rehydration drinks or protein shakes in one go – patients of mine sip on them over a period of time.

“So they may think they’re doing something healthy but, from a dental point of view, exposing your teeth to sugar over long periods is potentially harmful.”

CEREAL BARS

For people on the go, a cereal bar appears to be a healthy snack – and certainly better for your teeth than milk chocolate or a packet of sweets. But Dr Atkins says they are a dental no-no.

“These quick mid-morning and mid-afternoon snacks are actually a triple-whammy.

“Not only are they sticky and can get lodged in the grooves of our teeth, but they are also often very sugary, which causes decayed teeth.

“When you add in nuts and seeds, you risk lost fillings and broken teeth as well.”

SMOOTHIES

While they’re a great way of helping you to reach your 5-a-day, Dr Atkins warns against too many smoothies. “Fructose found in fruit is a natural sugar but it still has the potential to cause tooth decay,” he says. “Fruit is also acidic and one of the major causes of acid erosion of the enamel on your teeth. “So, if you are going to enjoy the occasional smoothie, use a straw and drink it with a meal, to reduce the potential to damage your teeth.”

TOFFEE

We all know that sweets are bad for our teeth, but toffees cause damage in a different way.

“I’ve had patients whose crowns have come off from a toffee,” says Dr Prinja. “Some aren’t cemented on as well as they should be. Bite on a sticky toffee and old dental restoration work, like crowns, can come loose.”

SPECIALITY COFFEES

’Tis the season of the pumpkin spiced latte – the time of year when your morning coffee comes with an autumnal addition of spicey syrup.

Throw in a pastry on the side and your teeth are being exposed to large amounts of sugar before the day has even begun.

“Shop-bought coffees and iceddrinks, especially the seasonal ones, like Christmas, Halloween or summery fruit flavours are packed with sugar,” says Dr Atkins.

“Remember, one teaspoon is 4g of sugar, and it’s recommended that an adult consume a maximum of 30g of sugar per day.

“A caramel frappuccino contains 48.5g of sugar, far above the daily recommendation.”