If you want to avoid dealing with cavities or dental fillings at your next dentist appointment, the solution is to watch your sugar intake. However, this isn’t as easy as it sounds since even healthy foods have sugar. You’ll be better prepared to fight cavities if you know what foods could cause problems. Eat the below foods in moderation and practice positive oral health to avoid these unwanted cavities. 

3 Healthy Foods That Can Cause Cavities

1. Sugary Fruits

Eating fruit has benefits for your overall health. However, if you eat too much, you risk letting sugars accumulate in your mouth and attract harmful bacteria that digest it. After that, they produce acid that weakens your tooth enamel and creates cavities. This is true even for citrus fruits, which may not be as sweet as other fruits but still contain a lot of acids. If possible, limit your fruit juice intake.

2. Starchy Foods

Bread, chips, oats, pasta, white rice, potatoes, and even some vegetables like lentils, beans, peas, and corn are all known for being high in starch. Starch is a simple carbohydrate that eventually breaks down into simple sugars. Potato chips may even cling to your teeth, and the bad bacteria will flock to them. Whenever possible, substitute these foods with less starchy alternatives. Healthy options are quinoa, brown rice, barley, broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, asparagus, and celery. Consult your dentist about choosing the right starches for your oral health. 

3. Dark Chocolate

Although a little bit of dark chocolate can be argued to have health benefits because of its antioxidants, it’s still candy and therefore sugary. If you eat dark chocolate or any other type of candy, you should drink some water afterward to wash most of the sugar out of your mouth. Make sure you brush and floss regularly after consumption. These tips will make your next dentist appointment enjoyable and cavity-free.

If you’re looking for a dentist that can help you achieve a cavity-free smile, visit us at Smile Surgery Center in Anchorage, AK. We also offer dental implants, bone grafting, and wisdom teeth removal. To find out our availability, call (907) 644-4772 or message us online.