The 6 Worst Foods and Drinks for Your Teeth, According to Dentists

“Oranges or grapefruits, basically any citrus fruit… can cause the pH in your mouth to drop, making it acidic,” Gastelum said. This can lead to demineralization of the tooth or destruction of tooth enamel.

Ice

“I know a lot of people really like ice cream — it’s not good for your teeth,” Capehart said, pointing out that the cold temperature of ice cream can be hard for people with sensitive teeth and the hardness can lead to tooth fractures.

Drinking a glass of water with ice doesn’t necessarily pose any danger; This usually happens when chewing.

“Believe it or not, a lot of people eat ice cream…they just get a cup of ice cream and just start eating it,” Capehart said. For these people, the risk of tooth damage is high.

Sticky candy

“I actually try to tell my patients anything that’s acidic or sticky to stay away from because it’s very damaging to your teeth,” Capehart said.

These include toffees, caramels, gummy worms and anything similar. According to Capehart, they can get stuck in the grooves of the teeth and become difficult to brush out, which can result in pieces of candy being left behind.

The result? “Anything that doesn’t have sugar left on your teeth can cause tooth decay,” Capehart said.

Bread and crackers

Capehart said bread can also be sticky, meaning it can also get stuck in your teeth and cause dental problems. Bread eventually turns into sugar, which can lead to tooth decay.

Gastelum added that crackers are harmful, especially to children, for the same reason. “And these crackers are usually made from some type of carbohydrate that turns into sugar, so the bacteria can then cause damage to your teeth as well,” Gastelum explained.

Lemonade and energy drinks

One obviously harmful drink is soda, Gastelum said, but you may be shocked at how much it can harm your mouth. “Sodas can be very acidic. They can have an acidity level close to that of battery acid,” he explained.