Sunday, June 15, 2014

Foods that are good for Your Teeth

A few weeks back, your dentist talked about foods that were bad for your teeth, but all is not lost, as there are some foods that are actually good for you and your pearly whites.

According to Web MD, how often and when you eat is just as important as the foods you put in your mouth. If you enjoy snacking, be sure to rinse after you eat and try to stay away from sugars and carbohydrates. These types of foods will convert to acids eroding the enamel on your teeth.

Your dentist recommends that you include lots of fruits and vegetables in your diet. Pears, apples and carrots not only add crunch but will also help rinse away some of the food particles. Crunchy fruits and vegetables also have a high water content, which helps the saliva clear the bacteria from your teeth. Crunchy fruits and vegetables also dilute the natural sugars that are contained in the pear or apple you had before you went to bed. Snack on celery and you will be clearing the food in between your teeth. Celery is known as nature’s dental floss. Try to avoid citrus fruits on their own and include tomatoes, lemons, limes, grapefruits, and oranges with a meal to help minimize the acids.

Believe it or not, your dentist understands that meats such as pork, poultry, beef, and fish are actually good for your teeth and gums. Loaded with iron, that hamburger that you had for lunch is actually strengthening your bones and your teeth.

Peanuts, walnuts, pistachios, cashews and other types of nuts provide phosphorus. This is needed in order to remineralize your teeth.

Milk, sugar-free yogurt and other dairy products are a must if you want healthy teeth and gums. Calcium protects the enamel on your teeth and can actually provide a protective coating even if you didn’t brush after enjoying that big cheese plate for dinner.

Unsweetened tea, milk, and water are the best beverages to consume. If you must have a soda go for the diet variety, as they will not feed the bacteria as much as the sugary laden varieties do. If you enjoy sipping through a straw cut back. Excessive all day sipping will expose your teeth to sugar eroding the enamel on your teeth.

For more healthy food options for your teeth and gums, schedule an appointment with your dentist who can help you make the right choices for oral health.

Sunday, June 1, 2014

Dental Sealants Can Prevent Tooth Decay

Dental Sealants can help prevent tooth decay in infants, kids and teenagers, but are also being used for adults who have teeth without restorations. Talk to your dentist if you want to prevent cavities.
When your dentist applies Dental Sealants to the top of your back teeth the fine pits and grooves are protected from plaque. These grooves and pits are hard to reach when you brush, and when you floss, you just slide over the top of them. If left untouched, cavities will develop leading to an unnecessary trip to the dentist’s office. Dental Sealants prevent tooth decay from developing as the coating that is painted on to each tooth allows you to brush off the plaque easily and effectively.

Web MD describes Dental Sealants as plastic coatings that are thinly painted on to the places where you chew. Your dentist paints the thin solution on to your back teeth, or pre-molars and molars, into the grooves and depressions in order to form a strong and tough shield over your teeth.  

Because it is likely that your kids will develop tooth decay before they reach adulthood, Dental Sealants can ease the likely hood by providing a protective defense against cavities.

Dental sealants are perfect during the cavity prone years. When your children are between the ages of 6 to 14 you may want to consider Dental Sealants to prevent tooth decay. Babies may also be good candidates for Dental Sealants. It is imperative that your infant’s baby teeth are healthy as they provide the right spacing for their adult teeth.

Applying Dental Sealants is painless and quick. A few minutes is all it takes for a dentist or dental hygienist to paint the special dental sealant on to each tooth.

After each tooth is cleaned thoroughly, it is dried and wrapped with cotton. An acidic dental solution is then painted on to the back teeth where you chew to roughen, which helps the Dental Sealant seal the tooth. Once the teeth are rinsed and dried your dentist or hygienist will paint the Dental Sealant into the pits and grooves in your back teeth. Occasionally a special curing light may be used to cure the Dental Sealant.

Dental Sealants can help prevent tooth decay for up to a decade as long as you practice good oral hygiene. Brushing twice, flossing once a day, and seeing your dentist for regular checkups will prevent unnecessary trips to the dentist for replacement Dental Sealants.

If you or someone you know could benefit from Dental Sealants, schedule an appointment with your dentist today. Practicing preventive dental care now will prevent unnecessary and expensive dental appointments in the future.