Keep a Sparkle in Your Smile This Holiday Season!
Marshfield News Herald
Healthy Lifestyle Page – Article
Dental Clinic of Marshfield, S.C. — November 2011
Did you know that there are foods that can actually provide benefits to preventing tooth decay and a bit of protection for your teeth? Conversely, there are also certain foods that promote cavities, and if aware, you can try to avoid them this holiday season.
Foods to be wary of include edibles that tend to be retained in the mouth for longer periods, such as slowly dissolving candies and dried fruits that increase the exposure time of teeth to bacterial acids and can lead to cavities. For example, a sugary liquid that may be eliminated quickly from the mouth when consumed rapidly becomes much more damaging to teeth if sipped over a longer period. We’ve seen the results in patients who were heavy soda drinkers, and how the acid in these types of beverages caused enamel demineralization having been consumed or sipped frequently over time.
Here’s the good news—just the opposite is true for foods that are quickly eliminated from the mouth and less damaging than those that are retained longer. Non-carbohydrate foods can also help reduce the cavity causing potential of foods. For example, calcium and phosphorus in foods help re-mineralize enamel. Dietary fiber can help stimulate saliva, and water can help clean the mouth, decreasing the amount of time foods remain in the mouth, and helping to counterbalance the negative effects of the carbohydrates. Tooth brushing and flossing is recommended after eating to help remove food debris.
Fluoride, especially when provided daily in drinking water or toothpaste, helps maintain a more resistant enamel surface that counteracts the effects of acids produced from bacterial metabolism of dietary carbohydrates. However, this protective benefit of fluoride may be overwhelmed if the consumption of cavity causing foods is excessive or if there is a deficiency of saliva.
Your teeth are a direct reflection of your whole body wellness. If you have a healthy diet, then your teeth and gums will be healthy as a result. Take advantage of foods that can be thought of as beneficial, in terms of keeping your body healthy and cleansing your teeth at the same time. We know that the foods and beverages that benefit teeth: green tea, milk, yogurt, and cheese, fruits and vegetables, fresh herbs, seeds, beef, chicken, turkey, and eggs, and last but not least—water, because it cleans the mouth and produces saliva that deposits essential minerals into the teeth—and water keeps gums hydrated and washes away food particles from the teeth.
With the holidays right around the corner, it’s a great time to schedule a check up and cleaning – get it done now, so you can relax and keep your smile sparkling bright. Remember, it is never too late to get back on track with having good dental health. Schedule a check up and cleaning with your dentist today — or contact the Dental Clinic of Marshfield to schedule an appointment with one of our 20 dentists!
Joan Peissig is a Dental Hygienist at the Dental Clinic of Marshfield. For more information about your dental health or to schedule an appointment, please contact the Dental Clinic of Marshfield.
