WatchNutrition & Your Teeth
The foods that help your teeth, and the ones that harm them
Aside from brushing and flossing, almost nothing shapes your cavity risk as much as your diet. The bacteria in your mouth feed on sugars and certain carbohydrates, then produce acids that demineralize tooth enamel. Acidic drinks like sodas and sports drinks go after the enamel directly, and pairing the two together does especially heavy damage.
Watch the video for the science in clear terms. The acid attack begins the moment you snack or sip a sugary or acidic drink, because the pH in your mouth drops each time. Demineralization adds up the longer that food lingers on your teeth and the more often you re-expose them across the day, until a cavity eventually starts.
Your body fights back with a defense system of its own, which is the good news. Saliva rinses away debris while delivering the calcium and phosphate that help remineralize enamel. You can boost that saliva flow and neutralize acids by chewing sugar-free gum or eating a small piece of cheese after a meal, and cutting back on between-meal snacking gives your teeth time to recover.
Habits built early pay lifelong dividends, and that goes double for kids learning tooth-friendly eating. Bring your nutrition questions to your next visit at Brammeier Dental of Naperville, where we'll talk through specific changes that match how your family actually eats.
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