Everyone enjoys a delicious snack during their busy day or dessert after dinner. But what some may not know is what they are doing to their teeth with this process. Foods have an immediate effect because it comes in contact with bacteria and creates acid which starts the process for cavities.

When eating an unhealthy snack that contains fermentable carbs, they break down in the mouth and form into acid that produce decay. Sticky foods such as raisins cause more damage because of how long they are in contact with the teeth. So while you keep chewing you are letting the acid eat away at your enamel for a longer period of time. This is also true with potato chips because they get stuck in the cracks and interproximal areas within the teeth. After these foods have been swallowed you would think that the acids would disappear with it but in fact they don’t, they sit in your mouth for another half an hour! (more…)