Can You Eat Too Many Sunflower Seeds: 6 Potential Risks (3 of 3)

Tooth and Gum Decay

Sunflower seeds are not hard to chew, but having to crack the shell around them can be dangerous. If you use your teeth to crack the sunflower seed shell, then you are putting yourself at risk for tooth and gum decay. This risk increases if you have weaker enamel on your teeth or have recent dental work. The possibility of slivers of the shell getting lodged in or sticking to your gums can also be damaging. This is why it may be a better idea to purchase sunflower seeds that have already been shelled, so that your teeth and gums are better protected.

Too Much Selenium

Selenium is actually very good for our bodies, and helps our system fight off free radicals. Eating just one serving of sunflower seeds will account for 21 percent of the recommended daily allowance of selenium. But you can eat too much selenium easily by consuming several servings of sunflower seeds, which can put you at risk for developing problems. Too much selenium can put you at an increased risk of developing diabetes, and even become toxic if consumed beyond the recommended amount over time.