As emphasized by cosmetic dentists in Jupiter, several meals severely threaten one’s dental health. These so-called “bad” foods can raise your risk of cavities, contribute to acid erosion, or help teeth crack or break. Here is a list of what not to do so you can keep your teeth healthy.
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What to Avoid
Dehydration
Saliva serves as an essential defense mechanism for maintaining oral health. Dehydration increases the chance of developing oral sores, gum disease, and cavities in the mouth. It can be exacerbated by ingesting excessive amounts of alcohol or caffeine and salty meals.
Chewing Hard Food or Other Items
Food or other items that are hard to chew or bite put will put your teeth at risk of breaking or shattering when you chew them. This implies that chewing ice, tough nuts, and crusty bread can all be risky. Biting on a jar’s lid to open it can also be harmful.
Eating or Drinking Acidic Food or Beverages
The toughest substance in the human body is tooth enamel. Acid is its most prominent adversary. By exposing the teeth to powerful acids, you can dissolve the enamel. Likewise, another way that bacteria cause cavities are through acid. These bacteria consume sugar and expel acid as waste. Hence, they can only pierce the enamel and produce cavities because of that acid.
Numerous beverages, including sodas, fruit juices, sports drinks, and even certain bottled waters, are very acidic. Despite having reduced sugar content, diet sodas and sparkling water can also damage your teeth due to their low pH.
High-Sugar Content Consumption
Sugary foods and beverages are unhealthy for your teeth. Some carbohydrates are a source of energy for the bacteria that cause cavities and can be found in sodas, juices, cookies, candies, and other foods. You feed the microorganisms that rot teeth when you consume foods and beverages with a lot of sugar.
How to Keep Your Teeth Healthy
Dentists don’t want to ruin your satisfaction, enjoyment, and experience! You can occasionally indulge in some of these “unhealthy foods” and achieve decent oral health. Here are some suggestions for maintaining good oral health while consuming your favorite snacks or beverages.
- Go to the Dentist
While dentists can’t always avoid dental issues, they can identify several warning indicators that can point to a cavity or gum disease risk. When this occurs, they can advise you on the necessary precautions to be proactive before it’s too late.
- Regular Brushing and Flossing
Practicing excellent oral hygiene is key to keeping your teeth healthy at home. Plaque builds up on your teeth daily, even with a healthy diet. To prevent cavities and gum disease, you must constantly and adequately remove plaque.
- Stick to Mealtime
Instead of snacking on unhealthy foods between meals, try to include high-sugar or acidic foods as part of your meals only when you need a mouthful. The body produces the most saliva during meals, allowing your mouth to protect itself from harmful microorganisms.
- Chew Xylitol Gum
After a snack and you can’t brush your teeth, you can chew Xylitol sugar-free gum. You can swiftly counteract any adverse impacts of your “bad meal” after indulging by inducing the production of saliva. The quickest and easiest way to do this is to chew sugar-free gum. Saliva is somewhat alkaline and can more effectively neutralize the acids, making this slightly more effective than drinking water.
- Drink a Lot of Water
Water is necessary for good oral and general health. Drink water throughout the day to stay hydrated and maintain a neutral pH in the mouth. To reduce the risk to your teeth, consume your “bad” drinks with food.
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Ask a Cosmetic Dentist in Jupiter
At PGA Dentistry, we like assisting patients in making wise decisions and caring for their teeth. Try any food suggestions if you are prone to cavities or have active gum disease to improve your dental health permanently. Call us for more info!