Next holidays are around the corner, and you’re probably already thinking about all the good food that’s coming your way. November is a good nutrition month, so you may want to consider adding healthy food options to maintain good oral and general health and well-being. Our dental practice aims to help you stay healthy, strong and bright with your teeth!
Nutritionally-Rich Foods
Eating a balanced diet to preserve teeth and gums begins with a healthy smile. Not only do healthy teeth allow you to chew (and digest) the nutritious foods your body needs, but the resistance of your mouth to infection will be lowered if your diet is poor. Mouth-healthy foods include fresh fruits, leafy greens, vegetables, lean meat and milk, all of which give you the nutrients you need to grow.
Sugar Attacks
Modern diets do not seem to get away from sugar because they are added by manufacturers to almost everything. It is often used for flavor and as a preservative when you read the labeling on processed foods. The problem is that sugar feeds the oral bacteria, which then destroys tooth enamel and renders plaque and tartar harmful.
If you love soda, you should know that it is one of the biggest “bad guys” when it comes to sugar (and acid). Sucrose is a major culprit in tooth decay, so regular consumption of soda, candy, cakes, pies and cookies are top tooth hazards. Even dried fruits harm tooth enamel since they are high in sugar and often sticky, so they cling to enamel. Sugar is also derived from starches like bread, chips, cereals, and pretzels, leading to tooth decay when consumed regularly.
If you love soda, you should know that when it comes to sugar (and acid) it’s one of the biggest “bad guys. Sucrose is a major culprit in tooth decay, which means that daily soda, sweets, cakes, pies and cookies are the highest risk to the tooth. Dried fruits often cause damage to the enamel of the teeth as they are high in sugar and often sticky and cling to the enamel.
Holding on fresh fruits like raw apples will comfortably fulfill your sweet cravings and preserve your pearly whites. Raw fruits require a lot of chewing, which increases the production of saliva which decreases oral acidity, rinses off food particles and decreases bacteria in the mouth which trigger cavity.
Acid Attacks
Permanent damage to teeth and gums also arises from acidic foods and drinks as they erode precious tooth enamel, and unfortunately, it doesn’t take much to begin the erosion process.
Highly acidic liquids:
– Citrus juice (lemon, grapefruit, lime, orange)
– Fruit juices (apple, grape, cranberry)
– Wine
– Soda
– Tonic water
– Iced tea
– Sports drinks
Highly acidic foods:
– Fruits (such as pineapple, berries, oranges and lemons)
– Tomatoes
– Pickles (such as cucumbers, artichokes, beets and sauerkraut)
Secure your teeth from an acid attack by waiting for half an hour before brushing your teeth after eating or drinking. Upon eating these things, you can rinse food particles and oral debris out of your mouth by swishing for 30 seconds with plain water. Use a soft-bristled toothbrush while you brush and brush softly at an angle of 45 degrees.
Oral Care Tips
– When you are away from home and can’t brush, try chewing sugarless gum. The act of chewing stimulates saliva production and flushes away food particles while lowering your oral acids.
– Avoid dry mouth (insufficient saliva production), which increases your risk of tooth decay. Stay well hydrated, and be sure to brush your teeth before bedtime. Saliva production slows down while you sleep, so don’t skip your nightly brushing routine!
– Don’t skip your biannual dental checkups. These are crucial to a healthy smile as we remove hardened dental plaque and check teeth and gums for potential problems.
This November, we hope you will enjoy the happiness of being with your loved ones, eating delicious, nutritious foods and drinks, and remember all the things you are grateful for! We are here to help you take good care of your teeth and gums so that you can be grateful for your healthy body and smile!