Social media is filled with tips and clips regarding healthy foods that are good to eat or other things, but some of these tips can actually be harmful to your health.The health of our teeth.
Dr. Khaled Qassem, chief orthodontist at the Empress Center, revealed that in the age of social media, it can be difficult to distinguish truth from fiction when browsing health advice online.
He said that there are five things in particular that can damage our teeth and cause us pain, according to what was quoted by the British “Sunday Times” website.
1. Charcoal toothpaste
We start with charcoal toothpaste, which is one of the teeth whitening methods that have taken over the Internet recently. Dr. Qassem explained that despite its benefit for temporary teeth whitening, the truth is that it can do more harm than good.
He added that “charcoal toothpaste removes a light surface of stains, and gives your teeth a temporary glow, but it can damage the enamel of your teeth.”
Charcoal paste (iStock)
2. Lemon water
In parallel, several clips have recently spread on Tik Tok talking regarding the benefits of lemon water, as it can help moisturize the body, and it is a good source of vitamin C, and it can also support skin health and aid digestion.
But Dr. Qassem said that excessive drinking can harm your teeth, noting that “lemon juice is very acidic and can erode the enamel, making your teeth vulnerable to gum disease and cavities over time.”
3. Apple cider vinegar
In the same context, he promotes within sports circles and among influencers on the benefits of apple cider vinegar in detoxing and losing weight.
However, Dr. Kassem revealed that drinking a lot of apple cider vinegar can not only damage your teeth, but also irritate your stomach and throat due to its high acidity.
Apple cider vinegar (iStock)
4. Purifying juices
Also, videos promoting “clean eating” are everywhere, including juice cleanses.
However, the orthodontist said that although these juices are beneficial, they may harm your mouth.
He explained that drinking juice directly allows sugar to accumulate and stick in the cracks of the teeth, and excessive drinking of juice can lead to complications such as tooth decay and the collapse of molars.
Detox foods and juices
5. Small meals
In addition, nutritionists advise eating small meals every few hours in order to lose weight, but doing so may put your teeth at risk.
A smaller break between meals gives your mouth less time to break down the foods you just ate, he said.
Also, he noted, this results in a buildup of bacteria and acid on your teeth and gums. Overexposure to this can lead to tooth decay.
He recommended eating three meals a day, wherever possible, and brushing the teeth once following breakfast and once following dinner, because eating little food and often without rest, increases the chances of developing tooth decay and even gum disease.
