Top Summer Foods to Avoid!

There’s a lot to love about summer. The fresh breeze on a hot day, walking in one of the many beautiful parks around Calgary, or even heading to the mountains for a weekend. But not everything that comes with summer is fantastic — mosquitoes and wasps seem like an obvious example. Another problem with these warmer months is all the junk food many Albertans end up consuming. Unfortunately, ice cream and other sugary treats aren’t the only summer foods you should avoid for the good of your teeth.

Soda Pop & Juice.

Whether you’re mixing your cola for a more refined beverage or just drinking it straight from the can, sugary beverages (like pop and juice) are terrible for your teeth. Here in Canada, we have tendency to think that juices are a good option for our kids, but the fact is even fresh 100% juice can contain nearly as much sugar as pop. These beverages offer little to no nutritional value, and they’re terrible for teeth. Instead of juice, we suggest offering water and whole or sliced fresh fruit.

Corn on the Cob.

Is there anything more delicious than fresh corn on the cob smothered in butter, salt, and pepper? Probably not, and the good news is that most of us Albertans can keep enjoying it. However, if you have a family member with braces or dentures, you’ll likely want to avoid serving this style of corn. Corn on the cob can tear wires from brackets and damage dentures.

Ice & Hard Candy.

Cracking anything hard in your teeth wears away at the enamel and increases your risk for shattering a tooth. While most Calgarians know that they aren’t supposed to chew hard candy, what you may not know is the same recommendation is extended to ice. While it’s fine to drink your beverages iced if you prefer, you should leave the ice in the cup.

Lemonade.

Citrus fruits like orange and lemons have a high acidity. This contributes to why they’re so good for us. Vitamin C, or ascorbic acid as it’s formally known, is just one of the acids found in citrus fruits, and it’s important for your health. However, just like juice and soda pop, you should eat the fruit whole with its fiber intact. Regularly drinking lemonade will provide more net health negatives (like lost enamel) than benefits.

Remember that when it comes to taking care of your teeth, you generally want to avoid anything high in sugar, high in acidity, or sticky. All of these sorts of foods encourage bacteria growth, destroy enamel, or otherwise cause dental hygiene problems. If you want to learn more about what great summer foods exist for your teeth or how to keep your teeth in better shape, contact the friendly Calgary dentists at Metro Dental today.