Gastronomy, the practice or art of choosing, cooking, and eating good food is increasing in popularity annually. While Canadians love different foods, and global trade has presented each of us with innumerable options, the reality is that unless you have your toothbrush handy, certain foods should be avoided or at best, consumed in moderation – sugars, starches, acids, low nutrition, and supersized foods all make the list. At Aberdeen Dental Arts, we believe in whole mouth dentistry for a lifetime of great oral health. Our state-of-the-art dental services provide the care you need in all stages of oral health, including effective preventative maintenance and with that in mind, here a few of the foods to be avoided. Sugary food sends the bacteria in your mouth into a feeding frenzy, producing acids that damage your teeth and lead to decay – and an average Canadian eats 40 kg of sugar in a year. Consider reducing - or eliminating - foods containing added sugars, including glucose, honey and molasses. Foods that are chewy and sticky are more likely to stay on your teeth longer and cause decay – even after you rinse with water or brush your teeth. Toffee and sugary gum are obvious but even healthy snacks like dried fruit, can contribute to decay if it hangs out long enough on the surface of your teeth. Try to eat sticky foods as part of a main meal, when your extra saliva will help wash it away, not as a snack you nibble on throughout the day. Acidic foods or drinks - tomatoes, citrus fruits, pickles, fruit juice, coffee, red wine, or pop - can raise the level of acid in your mouth that over time can eat away at your tooth enamel. Drinking and rinsing with water or chewing sugarless gum after eating something acidic can help wash away acid, or stimulate saliva to neutralize it. Junk or foods low in nutritional value put your whole body at risk because your immune system needs a balance of minerals and vitamins in order to fight infection. Some research shows that if you aren’t eating a nutritious diet, you’re more vulnerable to tooth decay and gum disease. Supersized foods have been shown to cause diners to open their mouths wider than they’re meant to creating a condition called temporomandibular joint dysfunction that causes facial pain and problems opening the mouth. Foods that are more than about four centimetres in height may be too gigantic for your jaw to handle – use a knife and fork and take smaller bits. We all eat, and for our health we should eat right and the right amounts to help reduce tooth-decay risk from the foods we eat. To eat for a healthy mouth, consume sugary foods with meals, limit between-meal snacks, drink more water, and always brush your teeth twice and floss once a day. If you have questions, or are concerned about your diet, contact Aberdeen Dental Arts, our dental office, at 250-828-0322 today. Located across from the Aberdeen Mall in Kamloops we provide wheelchair accessible facilities and free parking.