What's worse for your teeth: dried apricots or those dark Halloween taffy things?

The truth is they're both a disaster, because they're sticky and sugar-laden. But most of us would never think of dried apricots, rich in vitamin A and fibre, as a no-no.

It turns out that a lot of the foods we thought were healthy are the kinds that make dentists see dollar signs. Dr. Jane Gillanders, a Toronto-based pediatric dentist divulges to CTV.ca her top hidden dangerous foods and eating habits that can damage teeth -- and a few ways to prevent them.

1) Fresh fruits and juices - While fruit is good for our health and contains lots of vitamin C -- great for our gums -- most fruits are acidic. So that means everything from oranges to strawberries to bananas contains acid that can temporarily soften our teeth's hard enamel surface, in a process called acid wear or acid erosion. While our saliva can neutralize this acid and re-harden the tooth enamel, the process is slow, so a high-acid diet can take its toll on our teeth.

2) Tomato sauces and ketchup - Like fruit, these foods are otherwise pretty healthy, loaded with antioxidants and lycopene, but they are also acidic and damage enamel. Kids, who love fries and ketchup and pasta and tomato sauce, are at particular danger for acid wear, says Gillanders, "because the enamel on baby teeth is less mineralized." Enamel loss, which can't be reversed, causes teeth to become thin, discoloured and vulnerable to chipping. It can also make the teeth highly sensitive to hot and cold.

3) Chewable and gummy vitamins - Who would believe anything teddy bear-shaped could be bad? Kids love children's vitamins, but they are often loaded with sugar, "and the gummy ones are particularly bad," says Gillanders, "because they stick to your teeth."

4) Raisins, dried fruit, all-natural fruit rollups and bars - Like gummy bears, these snacks can be nutritious but they too stick to teeth and lead to cavities. Even preschoolers can get cavities and that can mean fillings -- or worse. Just because baby teeth fall out one day, "they are definitely not disposable," says Gillanders, "they maintain teeth structure, help with chewing and help with speaking."

5) Grazing throughout the day - Nutritionists often say eating four or five small meals throughout the day is a good way to avoid drops in blood sugar that cause us to overeat. But chances are most of us are not brushing our teeth after these "mini-meals." So the food and plaque that's getting stuck to our teeth is staying longer than it should. "Constant snacking on acidic food and drinks throughout the day means your teeth are under persistent attack," says Gillanders. Because teeth recover slowly from acid wear, if the acid attack happens frequently, the enamel doesn't have a chance to grow stronger and can be worn away.

6) Brushing teeth immediately after a meal - This may sound surprising, since we're told we should brush to get food residue and acids off our teeth as soon as we can. But Dr. Gillanders explains that acidic food temporarily weakens our tooth enamel, and toothbrushing can actually wear it right off. So she says it's better to rinse your mouth out with water after eating, then wait 30 to 60 minutes before brushing. Who knew?

Dr. gillanders offers a few tips to help avoid the effects of acid wear and prevent cavities:

  • Use a straw to direct acidic liquids away from your teeth.
  • Don't suck on fruit or candies.
  • Have a dairy product at the end of a meal, such as a piece of cheese or glass of milk, to help neutralize acid.
  • See your dentist once or twice a year for a consultation and cleaning, and make flossing a part of your daily routine.

"There are also some simple tricks parents can do to help protect their kid's teeth," says Dr. Gillanders.

  • Limit the treats this Halloween.
  • Toss out sticky candies or ones that have be sucked for a long time. Or offer to trade them in for a prize of the parent's choosing
  • Make sure they get plenty of calcium-rich foods in their diets
  • Brush kids' teeth gently but thoroughly, with a medium-soft toothbrush twice a day, every day.
  • Consider a kids' toothpaste specifically formulated to help re-harden softened tooth enamel.