If you need more reason to take care of your teeth, other than just the chance to show off that gorgeous smile, consider this: Research shows that good oral health is key to overall health and can affect a person's risk for everything from diabetes to heart disease. So we asked dentists what foods and drinks they tell their patients to avoid for optimal oral health.

Photo: Alys Tomlinson/Getty Images

"Although we may feel virtuous when we eat granola bars, because they have nutritional value, they represent the same risk to our teeth as candies," says Yale Kroll, D.D.S., a New York City-based periodontist. "I have seen many patients with a sudden increase in tooth decay, and when asked they report that instead of eating a proper lunch, they snack on granola bars or power bars." Why are these bars the culprit? Many have a high sugar content, and trendier varieties also have a sticky consistency. "It's better to snack on fresh fruit or dairy," Kroll says.

Photo: Maximilian Stock Ltd./Getty Images

If you’re hydrating with a squeeze of lemon in your water, you might as well be drinking lemonade. Highly acidic beverages will erode tooth enamel. “We’re finding it’s not just the food itself, it’s the frequency with which your teeth are exposed to that food,” says Kim Harms, D.D.S., a Minneapolis-based dentist and national spokesperson for the American Dental Association. “We have a slogan: Sip all day, risk decay,” she says. If you must drink your water with lemon in it, Harms advises doing so as part of a meal, to help remove the acid.

Photo: Pasha18/iStock

It may seem that all the recent research about coffee touts its health benefits. But by adding in milk, cream or sugar you counter those health perks and put your teeth at risk. "Unfortunately, cream increases the sugar content," Harms says. Constantly coating your teeth with sugar feeds bacteria in your mouth, which can encourage cavities. Drinking coffee black is best for mouth health (Harms advises using a whitening toothpaste to avoid stains); if you don't, limit yourself to one cup with cream per day. You can also try green teas for a caffeine fix — the polyphenols actually fight sugar buildup.

Photo: David Crockett/iStock