Drinks that cause more tooth decay than candy

Many people still believe that eating a lot of candy will cause tooth decay because it contains sugar, however dentists reveal that there are other foods and drinks that are worse for teeth than candy.

Adults often tell kids that if you eat too much candy, you'll get cavities and need to see a dentist. But that's not entirely true. "Sugar doesn't cause cavities, acid does," says Dr. Burhenne of AsktheDentist.com.

“When you eat something that contains sugar, the bacteria that naturally live in your mouth also feed on that sugar,” explains Dr. Burhenne. “The bacteria’s waste product is acid, so after the bacteria eat the sugar, they release acid. Acid is what causes dental problems. Acid dentin or demineralizes tooth enamel by breaking down the structure of the enamel, causing decay.”

Surprising foods and drinks that can damage teeth, experts warn, include:

Saltine crackers

“Salty crackers are worse for your teeth than candy because they are fermentable and contain high amounts of starch,” says Dr. Burhenne. “Many people don’t realize that most crackers are processed and contain genetically modified ingredients, which essentially increase the glycemic index and make the food more cariogenic.”

Saltine crackers are worse for your teeth than candy.

Fish cake

Have you ever noticed how saltine crackers or fish cakes stick in your mouth when you chew them?

“This is even better for bacteria, because the leftovers will keep bacteria stuck to your teeth longer,” says Dr. Burhenne. He also advises against giving these cookies to kids as a snack. Instead, Dr. Burhenne suggests giving them healthy fruits and vegetables, almonds, or dark chocolate bars.

The amount of cake left in your teeth will cause bacteria to stick to your teeth longer.

Dried fruit

Dr. Burhenne explains that when fruit is dried, all of its water is removed, making the natural sugars in the fruit "extremely concentrated."

Dried fruit is similar to concentrated sugar.

“This means that dried fruit acts like a sticky caramel in your mouth,” he says. “They stick to your teeth like candy and deposit bacteria and sugar on your teeth.

Cough drops

"When it comes to cavity formation, sweets are best consumed immediately," says Dr. Burhenne. "Sucking on a hard candy, or sucking on a cough drop, means your teeth are exposed to sugar and acid for a lot longer than if you eat a piece of cake and swallow it quickly."

Sucking on cough drops means your teeth are exposed to sugar and acid for longer.

Grapefruit

"People think grapefruit is a great breakfast choice, but it's actually very acidic," says Dr. Burhenne. "Acid damages enamel, because it can dissolve tooth enamel. When you have low acidity in your body, it depletes calcium."

Grapefruit is one of the most acidic fruits on the market.

Coffee

The naturally occurring tannic acids found in coffee can do more harm than good to your teeth. The acids swirling around in your mouth from your morning cup of joe can break down tooth enamel, leading to cavities. The longer the coffee stays in your mouth, the worse the effects, so don't sip coffee all day long.

The acids in your mouth from that cup of coffee can break down tooth enamel, causing cavities.

Bottled lemon tea

Bottled lemon tea has a pH of 2.97, so drinking it is like drinking a spoonful of vinegar, which contains acid.

Dr. Burhenne recommends purchasing a pH testing kit to see which foods in your day cause the most damage to your teeth.

According to VietQ