14. SUCKING ON STUFF
You probably know that sticky candies and sweets that linger in your mouth—lollipops, caramels, hard candy, and toffee—get a thumbs down from dentists, Dr. Sharifian says.
But many of us suck on other things, including cough drops and lemon wedges, which can set us up for tooth decay.
Many cough drops contain refined sugars, so they’re no better than candy—unless you read the ingredient labels to find brands that have low or no sugar.
Lemons are very acidic and can corrode tooth enamel with repeated exposure. It’s fine to squeeze them into drinks, but don’t brush right afterward.
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