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If you’ve heard that candy rots your teeth, or that your one- (or two- or three-) seltzer-a-day habit will erode your tooth enamel, you might be wondering what other treats, drinks, meals and snacks might be harming your teeth. While it’s technically true that all foods and drinks can cause tooth decay — or damage to the surface, or enamel, of your teeth — not every food or drink causes equal harm, and some people are more susceptible to dental decay than others.

Here’s what to keep in mind when taking care of your oral health.

Why are some foods worse than others?

When assessing how bad a meal, snack, dessert or drink is for your dental health, there are two main things to consider, said Dr. Apoena de Aguiar Ribeiro, a pediatric dentist and microbiologist at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill who studies the oral microbiome and how it affects dental decay: its composition and its quality.

Inside our mouths live more than 700 species of bacteria — some that are helpful, some that are harmful. The harmful bacteria break down sugars from foods and drinks and turn them into acids, which over time can pull essential minerals from your teeth and lead to cavities.

If you’re not vigilant about cleaning, bacteria can also form a soft film, or plaque, on the surface of your teeth, which can exacerbate that acidity and create an ideal environment for even more bacteria to proliferate. If your dental plaque grows and hardens enough, it can turn into tartar, which can also irritate your gums and cause gingivitis.

What types of food are bad?

Sugary foods — and in particular, those composed of sucrose, or table sugar — are especially bad for your teeth because harmful bacteria thrive on them, Dr. de Aguiar Ribeiro said. You can often find sucrose in many processed foods and sugary drinks like candy, pastries, fruit juice concentrates and sodas.

In addition, any foods that are sticky, gooey or chewy — like gummies, dried fruits, syrups and candies — get stuck in the nooks and crannies of your teeth and the spaces between them. When excess sugar lingers on your teeth, harmful bacteria can store it in their cells, “like a pantry inside of them,” Dr. de Aguiar Ribeiro said, and continue producing acid for hours after you’ve eaten.

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