I’m a dentist — these 5 foods are awful for your teeth

Brace yourselves before eating these foods.

Dr. Sam Jethwa, a London-based cosmetic dentist and founder of Bespoke Smile, is revealing the five foods people should avoid for the sake of their teeth.

First up: Pork crackling. Also known as pork rinds, the crunchy side dish can cause crevices in the teeth that could eventually lead to decay.

“Cracks are usually down to bite issues, but are also often caused by eating foods such as crackling, or biting on a popcorn kernel, which is why I try to avoid all of these,” Jethwa told the DailyMail.

“Particles of these crunchy foods can also get stuck in the grooves of your teeth, causing tooth decay over time.”

And while olives are considered a healthy snack, Jethwa says biting down on ones with pits can damage your chompers.

“Most of these cracks go unnoticed because dentists aren’t trained to spot them, until post-graduate education which is not part of regular training,” he explained.

“In fact, it’s such a severe problem in the UK that I have an academy that trains dentists.”

He did clarify that aging plays a factor in teeth becoming weaker and said the olive rule actually applies to any fruits with pits in them, including cherries, dates, and peaches.

Gobstoppers and jaw-breakers are also a big no-no for Jethwa.

As the name implies, the candy is so rock solid that it can break, crack, and chip teeth.

“The fact that they are designed to stay in the mouth for a long time means that the sugar will be directly exposed to teeth for a prolonged period of time, causing tooth decay and cavities,” he said.

Jethwa also advises against turmeric lattes, which have gained a following at hipster cafés.

The combo of nut milk and juiced turmeric root are not good for your teeth, Jethwa reasons, as the bright yellow aromatic powder can stain.

“All teeth are prone to staining and discoloration, and turmeric can be particularly problematic for people who have recently undergone teeth whitening,” he argues.

And they’re especially not good for veneers.

“After whitening treatment, your teeth can be more vulnerable to staining, and although porcelain veneers should not be stained by turmeric, your natural teeth can be, and so since your veneers are matched to your natural teeth, if staining occurs your veneers will stand out.”

Finally, the sugar and sticky, hard texture of toffee candies are a recipe to crack or chip teeth, Jethwa warns.

“I would never eat a toffee because they are terrible for teeth,” he plainly stated.

“Not only does the fact that they’re so chewy mean that they stick to your teeth for a longer period of time than most foods, meaning they’re more likely to cause decay.”

“The sticky texture of them could also pose huge problems for people who have fillings, crowns, composite bondings or braces because they could dislodge or even pull out any of these,” he added.

Two other dentists recently shared oral hygiene tips to keep smiles pearly white.