According to the Mohs Hardness Scale, enamel on the teeth is hard or harder than steel, ranking 5 while the strongest substance is diamond at 10.
Mohs Hardness Scale is used as a convenient way to help identify the hardness and softness of minerals. The qualitative ordinal scale ranks minerals from 1 to 10 with 10 as the hardest mineral known to man.
Teeth are susceptible to decay depending on the foods you are consuming. The enamel can be eroded by substances found in food like sugar or acids.
Consequently, unhealthy teeth can cause unimaginable pain to an individual that can force them to be removed.
Here is a list of foods to avoid for healthy teeth;
Sugary foods
Sugar is common in most of the foods we consume today. Generally, people recognize the harm sugar causes to the body and teeth.
A study from the American Dental Association indicates that sugar should only make up 10 per cent of the average day's calories.
Carbonated Drinks
The acid in sodas attacks the teeth. The enamel is corroded by the acids and is additionally weakened. Cavities results from the teeth being affected by these drinks.
According to experts, bacteria growth in the mouth increases as a result of the carbonation, sugar, and acids in carbonated drinks.
Experts advise that you should rinse your mouth after drinking any soda, also avoid brushing your teeth right after this because the surface of your teeth is still weak from the acid residues.
Bread
Bread is commonly consumed in the country as a light snack. Little do consumers know the harm it has on their teeth.
In the mouth, bread is broken down into sugar by saliva making it harmful to the teeth.
Additionally, when you chew bread it becomes paste-like and sticks to your teeth.
Citrus fruits
Oranges, tangerines, grapefruits, lemons, and limes are good sources of vitamins for the body but the acid in the fruits is quite harmful to the teeth.
The acid from these citrus fruits erodes the enamel making it susceptible to decay over time.
Tooth sensitivity can also be increased from continuous consumption of citrus fruits.
A common toothpaste brand advises that you consume citrus fruits in moderation as they are highly acidic.
“Citrus fruits are fully packed with vitamin C however make sure to keep an eye on the amount you’re consuming as they are very acidic and can erode enamel, making your teeth more vulnerable to decay over time,” orthodontists advise.
Chewy or sticky foods
Dried fruits or candies can be hard and chewy leading to some of the food particles getting stuck between the teeth.
When these types of foods get stuck in the teeth, they encourage bacteria build-up which results in tooth decay.
Dried fruits are full of sugar that eats away at your teeth. You are advised to floss after consuming such to avoid build-up.
The Kenya Dental Association urges Kenyans to embrace good oral hygiene
