What Foods Contribute to Cavities?

What You'll Learn

Sugar is the primary fuel for cavity-causing bacteria. When bacteria consume sugar, they produce acid that attacks tooth enamel. The more frequently you consume sugar, the more time your teeth spend under acid attack. Candy, cookies, cake, and sweetened beverages are obvious sources, but sugar is also found in many foods that do not taste sweet — bread, crackers, chips, and even some fruit juices. Sipping on sugary drinks throughout the day is particularly damaging because it keeps the mouth in a constant state of acid attack.

Sticky foods cling to the surfaces of teeth and are difficult to remove with saliva alone. Gummy candies, dried fruit, caramel, and even granola bars can coat the teeth with sugar for extended periods, giving bacteria more time to produce acid. These foods are more harmful than sugary foods that are quickly washed away by saliva. If you eat sticky foods, brush and floss promptly afterward.

Acidic foods and drinks weaken enamel directly, independent of sugar content. Citrus fruits, tomatoes, vinegar-based foods, carbonated beverages (including sparkling water), and sports drinks all have low pH values that soften enamel. Enamel that has been softened by acid is more vulnerable to bacterial attack. Rinsing with water after consuming acidic foods or drinks helps neutralize the acid and protect enamel.

Starchy foods like white bread, crackers, chips, and pasta break down into simple sugars in the mouth and can stick to the teeth in the same way as sugary foods. They are often overlooked as cavity contributors because they do not taste sweet, but they feed cavity-causing bacteria just as effectively as candy. Whole grain alternatives are less processed and break down more slowly, reducing their impact on cavity risk.