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What you eat affects your oral health—including your teeth. We all know that eating healthy is important for our general wellness but sometimes, people overlook the importance of nutrition on our oral health. In addition to visiting our dentist for routine checkups and cleanings, our practice recommends limiting sugar intake, watching out for acidic ingredients in foods and beverages, and staying hydrated. Limit Sugar Intake Sugar is dangerous to your dental health because it feeds oral bacteria. Our mouths are warm and moist—a perfect environment for bacteria to thrive. Eating sugar will only give bacteria more fuel to survive. When bacteria feed on sugar (including starches), they release acid as a by-product and colonize to form plaque. Acid is an irritant that softens teeth and uncontrolled plaque can lead to the development of gum disease and tooth decay. Whenever possible, avoid sugar. If you do consume something with high sugar content, drink water as you eat. We recommend limiting sugary drinks like soda, too. Drinking water while eating or drinking something sugary will help rinse away sugar particles. Avoid Acids Acid is very dangerous to your teeth because it can damage tooth enamel. Our tooth enamel is comprised of minerals. The mineral content of tooth enamel is what makes this protective barrier on the outside of our teeth so strong. Unfortunately, tooth enamel is not impervious to damage. Acid is dangerous because it strips away the mineral content of tooth enamel, thus weakening it. Acids can be found in many foods and drinks. Sometimes acid is naturally occurring, other times acid is used as a flavor enhancer and preservative. Common acidic foods and drinks include citrus fruits, soda, and alcoholic beverages. Staying Hydrated Water intake is very important to your oral health. Drinking water throughout the day will help rinse away food particles that harm teeth as well as dilute acids. Water’s neutral pH is also good for preventing an acidic environment in the oral cavity. Call us today to reserve a checkup with our dentist.
Establishing good oral health begins in childhood. Our family dentistry practice understands the unique health needs of children—especially the importance of detecting potential developmental problems early on and preventing common conditions like tooth decay. Our family-friendly practice takes an inviting and welcoming approach to treating children so that they can establish a positive relationship with our dentist and our staff. Detecting Congenital or Developmental Abnormalities Congenital and developmental abnormalities that affect the oral cavity and facial bones can have a lifelong impact if not addressed early on. Many conditions, with timely intervention, can be treated to maintain a beautiful aesthetic and comfortable oral function. Detecting issues such as improper tooth eruption, occlusal problems, and cleft palates is best done at an early age. This is because a child or adolescent’s facial bones and teeth are still developing. Manipulating the growth of bones and teeth is easier during development. To detect potential problems, we recommend that parents bring their children to our family dentistry practice for the first time around the age of one. This initial appointment involves a physical examination and questions about your family’s medical and oral health history. A child’s first visit is a great time for you to become acquainted with our team, too. By the age of four or five, your child should receive his or her first dental cleaning. With yearly appointments and cleanings, we can closely monitor your child’s oral health and development. If necessary, we can provide referrals to specialists for complex treatment. Preventing Tooth Decay One of the most common threats to your child’s oral health is tooth decay. In fact, tooth decay is so common that about 99% of the population will develop a cavity at one point in their lifetimes. Teeth cannot self-heal and therefore when damaged, a cavity will only deepen until it infects a tooth. Untreated tooth decay is very painful. We treat decay with restorations but we try to focus on preventing cavities all together. Prevention involves providing oral health education that teaches proper oral hygiene, thorough dental cleanings, and treatments such as fluoride varnishes and dental sealants. Call us today to reserve an appointment with our dentist.