O’Fallon Dentists Help You Understand How Some Substances Can Damage Your Teeth
One of the most important things that you can do to safeguard your smile is to me mindful of the substances that you consume every day. Everything that you eat and drink can potentially alter your smile. Today our O’Fallon dentists are reviewing some of the things that can damage your teeth. Our hope is that, after reading this short article, you’ll be better able to make healthy dietary decisions for your smile.
You probably already know that foods and drinks that have a lot of sugars can damage your smile. This is because harmful oral bacteria feed on sugars and refined carbohydrates, and then grow and multiply. Candies, desserts, sodas, and sweets in general can all increase your risk of developing cavities and periodontal disease.
Sugary treats that are also sticky or gooey are even more problematic, because remnants become stuck between teeth and along gum tissue. Try to minimize the amount of these types of substances that you consume, and make sure to rinse and clean your smile promptly after snacking.
Hard and inflexible foods can also wreak havoc on your dental health. If you regularly chomp on things like ice and hard candies, you may develop micro-cracks in your enamel. Over time these small weak spots can intensify and leave you at risk of suffering from more severe cracks and chips, as well as dental cavities.
Finally, regularly consuming acidic foods and drinks weaken dental enamel. Many popular foods and drinks like coffee, soft drinks, and juices are quite acidic. You want to make sure that you are rinsing your smile with water after exposing your enamel to acidic things, and wait at least twenty to thirty minutes after eating/drinking to brush your teeth as your enamel will be softer than usual.
Our O’Fallon dentists are here to give you any additional information that you may need about protecting your smile day to day. Give us a call to get started!