Sugar
Only sugar can penetrate the teeth’s strong enamel coating causing decay. Sugar can be found in sweets, pastries, cakes, biscuits and chocolate. An excess of refined sugars also dissolves the minerals essential for healthy teeth.
Artificial Sweeteners
Look out for hidden sugars in contents list such as sucrose, dextrose and maltose, which are often found in artificial sweeteners.
Sticky Sweet Treats
Full of refined sugars, toffee, sweet sauces and other sticky foods that cling to teeth so making sure you brush after eating them is very important.
Fruit Juices i.e. Orange, grapefruit and any citrus fruit
The sugars in fruit are not released until it is chewed, but in fruit juice the sugars are more likely to be in contact with the teeth for longer so avoid using fruit juice in a baby’s feeding bottle and preferably drink it with a straw. Eating some cheese afterwards is a good idea to balance out the acidity from the fruit. Avoid brushing for around 15 minutes after eating acidic fruits to allow the mouths saliva to neutralise the acid.
Fizzy Drinks
Sports drinks and colas are loaded with sugar or artificial sweeteners and diet fizz can be high in phosphorous, which although essential for strong teeth, can literally drag calcium out of the teeth if too many are drank. Use a straw if you must drink them.
Processed Cereals
Read the label carefully. It is amazing how much sugar is hidden in these so-called healthy carbohydrates.
Crisps and Chips
Cooked starch breaks down into component sugars. Opt for low on the glycaemic index such as sweet potato.
White Wine
Can be very acidic and contribute to enamel erosion. Drinking little and often is far worse than drinking once as day at meal times.