Keep Your Teeth Strong

To keep your teeth strong, you have to be vigilant with oral hygiene habits and visiting the dentist often. You also have to watch what you eat, as your diet can make a major impact on your oral health, not to mention your overall wellness. Each day, the foods you eat and the beverages you drink will demineralize your teeth. However, your teeth remineralize each day as well from your diet. Your teeth need minerals such as calcium and phosphate to stay strong. You get these minerals from the foods you eat. Learn how you should be taking care of your oral health and what foods and drinks to avoid in order to keep your teeth healthy and strong!

Choose Your Food Wisely

When it comes to eating each day, what you choose matters. Everything that passes through your mouth comes in contact with your teeth. That means, your teeth are exposed to countless types of substances each day. What you eat can determine your risk for cavities and if you are likely to break or damage a tooth. There are foods you want to avoid or limit to keep teeth strong in the long run. Here are some of the worst foods for your teeth:

• Hard candies – Not only are they full of sugar, but if chewed, they could cause broken or fractured teeth.
• Citrus fruits – Citrus fruits and juices can cause mouth sores and irritation. They can also damage your tooth enamel because citrus foods are so acidic. That acid erodes your tooth enamel and makes your teeth susceptible to tooth decay.
• Ice – Even though ice is simply hard water, it’s hardness can still break or fracture a tooth. Don’t ever chew ice. Suck on ice instead or enjoy it in a beverage.
• Coffee and tea – These beverages not only stain your teeth, but they can also dry out your mouth.
• Caramels – Any type of gummy, dried fruit, fruit snack, caramel, or other sticky food is one you want to limit. These foods stick to the teeth and cause tooth decay.
• Sports drinks – Most sports drinks are full of sugar—the food plaque needs to thrive. Stick to water to keep your teeth strong.
• Hard foods – These include chips, carrots, nuts, seeds, etc. Chew carefully when eating hard foods so you avoid fractured, chipped, or broken teeth.

Carbonated Beverages

Carbonated beverages (meaning sodas and sparkling waters) are some of the harshest substances you can expose your teeth to. Carbonated drinks get their fizz from carbon dioxide. When you drink, a chemical reaction takes place in your mouth, which turns that carbon dioxide into carbonic acid. Acid is something you don’t want to put on any part of your body, so why put it on your teeth?

Carbonated beverages will quickly use that acid to erode away your tooth enamel. What’s worse is that most fizzy beverages are full of sugar, so your mouth is going to receive a double dose of harmful substances (acid and sugar) that hurts your teeth. If you absolutely have to drink soda, try doing it with a straw to diminish the contact the soda has with your teeth. Make sure to wait about 30 minutes after drinking carbonation before you brush your teeth, as the acid could take a small layer of your tooth enamel off the tooth when you brush.

Watch Your Sugar Intake

The most common cause of cavities is sugar. Sugar is so concerning because all it takes is some sugar mixed with bacteria in your mouth to make plaque. That plaque is what sits on your teeth all day and erodes your tooth enamel. The more sugar you eat, the more plaque you make, and the higher your chances are for cavities. Just like the rest of your body, your teeth receive many benefits if you have a healthy diet.

Keeping Your Teeth Strong

Keeping your teeth strong doesn’t have to be a chore. In fact, most people keep their oral health in great shape and their teeth strong through brushing and flossing. The American Dental Association recommends brushing your teeth at least twice a day and flossing daily. This is an essential habit for keeping your teeth strong and clean. Some people also find that rinsing with mouthwash is a great way to kill bacteria that could form plaque, thus minimizing your chances for cavities.

We also recommend to not smoke or chew tobacco. Tobacco not only stains the teeth, but significantly increases your risk for gum disease, oral cancers, and tooth decay. If you really want to keep your teeth strong, then you want to invest your time in comprehensive exams and dental cleanings at least twice a year. These services can help you to know how healthy your teeth are and how you can keep them that way. We also have special services to repair your smile if you have fractured or broken a tooth, as this can easily happen with certain foods.

Daily Habits Are Key

You can keep your teeth strong by establishing solid daily habits of brushing and flossing your teeth. See the dentist often and have your teeth and gums evaluated. Take foods and drinks out of your diet that are harming your teeth, and most importantly watch your sugar intake. There is no reason you can’t keep your teeth strong if you follow these basic guidelines. To learn more tips for improving your smile, oral health, and for having strong teeth, call Family & Cosmetic Dentistry of the Rockies today at (970) 267-0993!