Our dentist in Encino and Downey, CA, wants you to have a healthy smile, which is why he wants to educate our patients on the types of foods they should avoid eating. When you avoid these foods in excess and pick healthier alternatives, then your smile can stay strong and beautiful for years to come. Contact Dr. Behzad Abadi if you want to learn more about how food can affect your dental health.

Some of the foods we recommend avoiding include the following:

  • Chewy foods — bagels, licorice, and hard rolls
  • Crunchy foods — popcorn, chips, and ice
  • Sticky foods — gum, caramel, taffy
  • Hard foods — nuts, hard candies
  • Foods You Bite Into — apples, carrots, corn on the cob
  • Chewing On Hard Things — pencils, pens, fingernails

These foods can not only damage your teeth, but they can ruin, break, or detach dental restorations and braces. The sticky, chewy foods listed can remain trapped in your teeth, increasing your risk for tooth decay. Additionally, sticky foods can pull off restorations or parts of braces. Foods that are hard can not only crack and damage teeth, but they can also cause teeth to shift in your mouth as well, creating a bad bite. Additionally, some of these foods can cause uncomfortable jaw strain.

While it is okay to eat these types of foods occasionally, it is best to avoid them in excess if you want to maintain a healthy mouth. To learn more about the types of foods you should avoid eating — or to learn about better alternatives — call our dental team today.