The Best and Worst Foods for Your Teeth If you are what you eat,
that's particularly true for your teeth and gums. When you drink
and munch starchy or sugary foods, you're not only feeding
yourself, you're feeding the plaque that can cause havoc in your
mouth. Plaque is a thin, invisible film of sticky bacteria and
other materials that covers all the surfaces of all your teeth.
When sugars or starches in your mouth come in contact with
plaque, the acids that result can attack teeth for 20 minutes or
more after you finish eating. Repeated attacks can break down
the hard enamel on the surface of teeth, leading to tooth decay.
Plaque also produces toxins that attack the gums and bone
supporting the teeth. Although some foods invite tooth decay,
others help combat plaque buildup. Here are some foods to seek
out and some to avoid. The good guys Fiber-rich fruits and
vegetables. Foods with fiber have a detergent effect in your
mouth, says the American Dental Association (ADA). They also
stimulate saliva flow, which