{"id":1082,"date":"2026-07-13T18:06:17","date_gmt":"2026-07-13T18:06:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.drbobbycarmen.com\/blog\/2026\/07\/cavities-foods-that-cause-them\/"},"modified":"2026-07-13T18:06:17","modified_gmt":"2026-07-13T18:06:17","slug":"cavities-foods-that-cause-them","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.drbobbycarmen.com\/blog\/2026\/07\/cavities-foods-that-cause-them\/","title":{"rendered":"Beware: Unexpected Foods Causing Cavities"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignleft size-medium\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"169\" src=\"https:\/\/www.drbobbycarmen.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/cavities-foods-that-cause-them-300x169.jpg\" alt=\"teeth plagued by cavities\" class=\"wp-image-1081\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.drbobbycarmen.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/cavities-foods-that-cause-them-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.drbobbycarmen.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/cavities-foods-that-cause-them-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.drbobbycarmen.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/cavities-foods-that-cause-them.jpg 800w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.drbobbycarmen.com\/preventive-dentistry.html\">Cavities<\/a> remain one of the leading oral health problems worldwide. Affecting children and adults alike, dental caries commonly develops as a result of poor oral hygiene and unhealthy diets. Sugars and starches are known to attract harmful bacteria that eventually break down tooth enamel, but did you know other foods and beverages can be just as bad? Discover which ones you should avoid.<\/p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<!--more-->\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Which Foods and Beverages Can Cause Cavities?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Candy, potato chips, cookies, and soda are all common foods and drinks a dentist will suggest that you stay away from if you want to prevent cavities, but the following items should also be consumed in moderation or avoided:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>Dried Fruit, as it can contain sugar, is sticky. This means it will adhere easily to your chewing surfaces, making it harder to remove. The longer it remains in your mouth, the greater the chances that cavities will form.<\/li>\n<li>Pickles are highly acidic. The ingredients used to create them can erode the enamel, causing it to thin over time and break down.<\/li>\n<li>Sports Drinks are also acidic, and many contain high amounts of sugar. When combined, they create an environment where harmful bacteria can thrive and cause harm to your teeth.<\/li>\n<li>Crackers contain processed carbohydrates, so their starch can erode enamel just as much as sugar. As bacteria grow, they eventually cause cavities to form.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Other foods and beverages to reconsider include alcoholic drinks (e.g., wine, beer, champagne), diet soda, pasta sauce, and citrus (e.g., lemons, limes, oranges).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How to Protect Your Teeth<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you struggle to avoid these foods and beverages, make sure to drink water while consuming them. This helps flush out harmful bacteria and food particles so that they do not become lodged in the crevices of your teeth or on your chewing surfaces.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Also, maintain good oral hygiene, but wait at least 30 minutes after eating or drinking any of these items. Cleaning your teeth too soon can cause bacteria to spread and cause more harm to your teeth. By brushing with fluoride toothpaste, flossing between teeth before bed, and rinsing with an antimicrobial mouthwash, you minimize the risk of cavities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It is also beneficial to see your dentist every 6 months for regular checkups and cleanings, as they can detect the earliest signs of decay and recommend appropriate treatment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Knowing which foods and beverages can be problematic for your smile is important. Although you do not have to deprive yourself, make sure the majority of your diet consists of healthy choices that serve to benefit your oral and overall health.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">About the Author<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Dr. Bobby Carmen\u2019s 20+ years of experience have enabled him to build long-lasting relationships with his patients and provide top-tier dental care unavailable elsewhere. After earning his dental degree from the University of Oklahoma College of Dentistry, he opened his own practice, serving patients of all ages. With preventive services at the forefront, he encourages good oral health and hygiene and provides tips to minimize patients\u2019 risk of developing cavities. If you need help to protect your smile, visit our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.drbobbycarmen.com\/contact.html\">website<\/a> or call <a href=\"tel:+14053642200\" class=\"pho\">(405) 364-2200<\/a> to schedule an appointment.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Cavities remain one of the leading oral health problems worldwide. Affecting children and adults alike, dental caries commonly develops as a result of poor oral hygiene and unhealthy diets. Sugars and starches are known to attract harmful bacteria that eventually break down tooth enamel, but did you know other foods and beverages can be just [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1082","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.drbobbycarmen.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1082","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.drbobbycarmen.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.drbobbycarmen.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.drbobbycarmen.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.drbobbycarmen.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1082"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.drbobbycarmen.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1082\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.drbobbycarmen.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1082"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.drbobbycarmen.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1082"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.drbobbycarmen.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1082"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}