The 6 Worst Foods And Drinks For Your Teeth, According To Dentists

“Oranges or grapefruits, just basically any citrus … can cause that pH in your mouth to decrease, which makes it acidic,” Gastelum said. That can result in demineralization of the tooth or destruction of the enamel.

Ice

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

Drinking a glass of water with ice does not necessarily carry a threat; this mostly occurs if you’re chewing it. 

“Believe it or not, lots of people eat ice … they’ll just get a cup of ice and just start eating it,” Capehart. For those people, the risk of damage to the teeth is high.

Sticky Candy

“I pretty much try to tell my patients anything that’s acidic or sticky, you want to kind of stay away from because they’re very harmful for your teeth,” Capehart said. 

This includes toffees, caramels, gummy worms and anything similar. They can get stuck in the grooves of your teeth and be difficult to brush out, which means pieces of candy can get left behind, according to Capehart.

The result? “Anything that stays on your teeth that’s not supposed to with sugar … that all that can cause cavities,” Capehart said.

Bread And Crackers

Capehart said that bread can be sticky, too, which means it can also get stuck in your teeth and cause dental problems. Bread eventually turns into sugar, which can cause cavities.

Gastelum added that crackers are harmful for the same reason, especially for kids. “And those crackers are usually made out of some type of a carbohydrate, which becomes a sugar that then the bacteria [can] also cause damage on your teeth,” Gastelum explained.

Soda And Energy Drinks

An obvious harmful drink is soda, Gastelum said, but you may be shocked at just how much it can hurt your mouth. “Sodas can be super acidic. They can be at acidity levels close to battery acid,” he explained.