A visit with your dentist at Four Corners Dental Group in Anchorage may not be your favorite pastime, but it could be made much more pleasant if you practice good hygiene outside of the office. Proper hygiene is about more than just flossing and brushing. It's about making the healthiest choices for your teeth, and that means avoiding foods and drinks that might damage them. 

As your trusted family dentistry, Four Corners Dental Group shares five foods and drinks to avoid for optimal oral health and pleasant trips to the dentist:

• Soda: Regular soda contains sugar which is obviously not healthy for teeth. However, both regular and diet sodas contain acids that damage tooth enamel. 
• Hard Candy: Savoring hard candies exposes your teeth to sugar for longer periods of time. Chewing candies could also crack or damage sealants and fillings.
• Chips: You may be surprised to discover that chips are bad for your teeth, too. When pieces of chips are caught between teeth, acid-producing bacteria break them down and increase your chance of tooth decay.
• Lemonade: Lemonade poses the same oral health risks as soda. Citric acid and sugar break down the enamel and increase your risks of cavities and tooth decay.
• Dried Fruit: Fruits are a healthy snack, but they do contain sugars. Dried fruits easily get trapped on teeth and expose them to sugar over long stretches of time. 

You don't have to eliminate these foods and drinks completely, but use them sparingly and see your dentist every six months. Visit Four Corners Dental Group online to learn about their affordable dental care services in Anchorage and Wasilla, and call them at (907) 258-3384 to schedule an appointment with a dentist today.