There is so much conflicting information out in the world about what foods to eat and what foods you should stay away from for a healthy mouth. After all, with all the different acids and unpronounceable chemicals on food labels, it's almost impossible to figure out if you could be damaging the health of your teeth or not. If you're trying to be conscientious about what you eat and how it could affect the health of your teeth, then here's what you need to know about foods that can damage your enamel -- and foods that are actually good for your teeth.

Food No-Nos

There are a lot of foods that can damage your enamel; however, this is not a do-not-eat list -- rather, you just need to be careful and make sure to brush after eating these foods. Make sure to leave at least half an hour -- or better, an hour -- between eating and brushing, however, in order to make sure your enamel re-hardens before cleaning it.

• Soft drinks. Caffeinated or non-caffeinated, colas or fruity flavors, it doesn't matter -- what does matter are the common ingredients in all sodas called malic and citric acid, which are able to dissolve enamel if left on it long enough without a cleaning.
• Sugared gum. Sugar, left on the teeth, can dissolve enamel more effectively than most substances. Opt for sugar-free gum to snack on for the same taste without the dental cost.
• Acidic fruits and vegetables. Sour or otherwise acidic fruits and vegetables such as lemons, limes, tomatoes, kiwi, and pineapple can dissolve the enamel on your teeth if you're not careful. However, you don't need to worry about peppers on this list; though they seem like they'd harm your teeth with their tongue-burning heat, there's no evidence to suggest capsaicin can harm enamel.

Food to Eat

Keeping your enamel strong and healthy isn't just a matter of avoiding the wrong foods and brushing your teeth thoroughly, though -- it also helps to eat foods that are good for your teeth in order to protect them.

• Tea. Put down the cola and reach for a tea bag instead to prolong the life and health of your choppers. The polyphenols in tea --especially black tea -- have been known to slow bacteria growth and even aid in getting rid of bad breath.
• Almonds. Already a delicious, nutty snack, almonds will seem even more delectable to the teeth-conscious person because of their calcium content, which helps teeth to stay strong.
• Cheese. This tasty, natural food can help to raise the pH of your mouth, which inhibits acid production, thereby making your mouth a better place to be a tooth. To learn more, contact someone like Bonnie Marshall S.