Hablamos Español (opens in a new tab)

305-447-1447
Schedule Appointment

Dr. John Paul Gallardo

Periodontics and Implant Dentistry

  • About
    • Meet Dr. Gallardo
    • Our Office
    • Our Bilingual Office
    • In The News
    • What Are My Options?
    • Why us
    • Location
  • Dental Emergency
  • Services
    • Dental Implants
      • Implants Overview
      • Dental Implant Repair
      • Dentures Vs. Implants
      • Single Tooth Replacement
      • Multiple Teeth Replacement
      • Full Teeth Replacement
      • All-on-4® Implants
      • Metal-Free Dental Implants
      • Teethxpress
      • Implant Failure Treatment
    • Gum Treatments
      • The Pinhole Surgical Technique
      • Laser Periodontal Therapy
      • Alloderm
      • Non-Surgical Methods
      • Periodontal Plastic Surgery
    • Cosmetic & Hygiene
      • Dental Crown Lengthening
      • Laser Gum Depigmentation
      • Lip Repositioning
      • Teeth Cleaning
      • Invisalign
      • Periodontally Accelerated Osteogenic Orthodontics
      • Professional Teeth Whitening
    • Oral Surgery
      • Bone Grafting
      • Jaw Surgery
      • Treatment Options
      • TMJ Disorder
      • Wisdom Teeth Removal
    • Technology Offered
      • Plasma Rich Growth Factors
      • Sedation Dentistry
      • Oral Cancer Screening
      • Oral DNA Testing
    • Endodontics
      • Dental Bridges
      • Dental Crowns
      • Full & Partial Dentures
      • Root Canal Treatment
      • Tooth Extraction
  • Photos
  • Reviews
    • RealSelf Reviews
    • Online Reviews
    • Solution Reach Reviews
    • Testimonial Videos
  • For Patients
    • Common Questions
    • Virtual Consultation
    • Out of Town Patients
    • Dental Financing
    • Dental Warranty
    • Educational Videos
    • Medical History Form (opens in a new tab)
    • Patient Referral
    • Pre & Post-Operative Instructions
    • Registration Form
    • Pay Your Bill Online
  • For Dentists
    • Patient Referral
    • Newsletter
    • Why You Should Trust Us
CALL
EMAIL

Five Worst Foods for Your Teeth and Gums

Top Five Foods That Are Horrible for Your TeethYou may be familiar with the best foods to eat to keep your teeth and gums in tip-top shape and to help reduce your risk for gum disease. Just as there are great foods for your teeth, there are also foods that really do a number on them, putting you at an increased risk for cavities, gum disease and other oral problems. Try to eliminate or reduce the following foods from your diet for the sake of your smile.

Crunchy Snacks

Crunchy snacks can have a negative impact on your mouth in a few ways.  First, snacks such as crackers, popcorn and potato chips tend to be made from simple carbohydrates, or sugar, which increases your risk for tooth decay. Second, crunchy foods have a tendency to shatter into hundreds of little pieces when you chew. Those little bits then get stuck between your teeth, or worse, between your teeth and gums, leading to plaque buildup and eventually tartar if it’s not cleaned away.

Popcorn can be a double whammy. Not only can bits of the kernel lodge in your teeth. The unpopped kernels, often found at the bottom of the bag or bowl, can crack your tooth if you bite down on them.

The best thing you can do is cut crunch snacks out of your diet entirely. If the thought of a movie without popcorn makes you cringe, though, just make sure you take the time to floss after your snack, removing any bits of food that might be stuck in your teeth, and leave those unpopped kernels in the bottom of the bag.

Citrus and Other Acidic Foods

Citrus fruits seem like they’d be great for you. After all, they are high in vitamin C, fiber and a number of other nutrients. But, the acid content of citrus fruits, such as grapefruit and orange, can be a nightmare for your teeth. The acid can wear away your teeth’s enamel, making them more sensitive and more prone to decay.

Since citrus fruits have so many benefits for your health, you don’t have to cut them out of your diet completely. Just make sure you drink an ample amount of water when eating an orange or grapefruit, to wash away the acid. Citrus isn’t the only acidic food you need to look out for. Pickles, tomatoes and vinegars can also be problematic.

Chewy Candies

The combination of sugar and sticky makes chewy candies, from caramels and jelly beans to taffy and gummy bears, some of the worst things for your teeth. When you eat something sweet and sticky, it tends to cling to your teeth for a longer period of time, giving bacteria plenty of opportunity to get in there and cause some problems, such as gumdisease or decay.

Since there’s really no health benefit to jelly beans or caramels, your best bet is to limit your intake of sticky sweets. Enjoy chewy candies at the holidays, for example, but not at other times of the year. Reduce the damage caused by the treats by brushing and flossing well after eating.

Corn on the Cob

For plenty of people, fall and the times around Thanksgiving aren’t complete without corn on the cob. But, eating your corn in this way can damage your teeth in a number of ways. It’s a disaster for people with braces, as the corn pieces can get stuck in and damage the wires.

You can still enjoy fresh corn. Just make sure to slice it off the cob before eating. Floss and brush afterwards to get any small pieces of corn off of or out from between your teeth.

Ice

While ice is technically not a food, that doesn’t keep countless people from chewing on or cracking it with their teeth. Ice won’t increase your risk for cavities or gum disease, since it is just frozen water. But, it does increase your risk for a broken tooth. If you just can’t resist the lure of an ice cube in the bottom of a glass, start ordering your drinks without ice.

Miami periodontists Dr. John Gallardo want you to have the healthiest smile possible. To learn more about ways to protect your teeth and gums and how a periodontist can help you, contact  their office at (305) 447-1447 to schedule an appointment today.

Before All-on-4 ® Dental Implants photo After All-on-4 ® Dental Implants photo
View more All-on-4 ® Dental Implants before and after photos

Reviews

  • My experience with Dr. Gallardo was great. I had no pain after my tooth extraction and bone grafting procedure. I was pleased with how fast my…

    • 5 stars
  • Amazing! Removed my 4 wisdom teeth, had no pain and didn't get swollen at all after.

    • 5 stars
  • I recently had a tooth extraction with bone graft. Dr. Gallardo was excellent! I'm so glad I found him online. My recovery went really smoothly and…

    • 5 stars

Our Doctors Are Featured In

Modern Luxury Miami

Univision

Contact Us Today!

  • By submitting this form I agree to the Terms of Use.
  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Quick Links

  • About
  • Blog
  • Services
  • Gallery
  • Reviews
  • For Patients
  • Patient Referral
  • Contact Us

Contact Details

  • 2020 SW 27th Ave Miami,
    Florida 33145
  • 305-447-1447
Facebook (opens in a new tab) Twitter (opens in a new tab) Instagram (opens in a new tab) Youtube (opens in a new tab)

Location Map

Location Map(opens in a new tab)

Proud of our Reputation

RealSelf
Yelp
Healthgrades

© Copyright 2021. Dr. John Paul Gallardo. Periodontics and Implant Dentistry.
Terms of Use | Privacy Policy | Sitemap (opens in a new tab)