9. Hard Candy
Hard candies are made with sugar, lots of sugar. As you slowly move through a bag of your favorite hard candies you create the perfect environment for cavities to set in. This is especially due to the sugar staying in your mouth for a long period of time as the candy slowly dissolved in your mouth.
Practice Teeth-Friendly Candy Consumption Habits
Good news: You don’t have to give up your favorite candies to maintain excellent oral health. Be sure to practice the following habits when you enjoy hard candy:
- Consume in moderation
- Eat candy with a meal (the saliva production helps prevent decay)
- Brush post-consumption
10. Tea
Tea can be both good a bad for your oral health. The tannins found in tea can eventually cause discoloration to your teeth. While this isn’t necessarily outright harmful to your teeth, many find themselves self-conscious of stained teeth. Teas that are especially sugary can cause cavities as all sugary foods do.
Drink in Moderation Instead
Because tea isn’t just plain bad for your teeth, you shouldn’t cut it out of your diet entirely. Avoid adding too much excess to the tea (lemon, honey, sugar) to avoid cavities. Unsweetened or sugar-free teas are the best option to get the benefit of tea without the oral health problems it may cause.