The Effect of Sugar on Dental Health

Most of us indulge in bad food habits. Unhealthy foods don’t just hamper the functionality of important organs, but also compromise our oral health. Sweet foods, soda, and bad habits such as, smoking lead to adverse effects such as gum disease and dental caries. Hence, choosing a healthy diet is very important. In fact, it outweighs all the sacrifices we may have to make later, just to save our teeth and gums from deteriorating any further.

Eliminating Sweets:

Eliminating sweets from our diet is one of the most effective steps we can take towards good oral health. Any drink or food that is high on sugar has the tendency to feed bacteria that produce acid in our mouth. This acid rots our tooth enamel, leaving our teeth to decay. Due to this, it is important to reduce the intake of soda, cookies, cakes and chocolates. In fact, these foods should be substituted with vegetables or other healthy alternatives. However, if it is difficult to avoid sweets completely, at least attempting to reduce our weekly intake is recommended.

Follow a proper diet plan:

Some of the suggestions to help keep the starch and sugar consumption in balance and protect teeth are:

Ø  Never snack on unnecessary starches and sugars. These compounds are very high in foods such as turkey sandwiches.

Ø  Substitute dried fruits with fresh fruits. Although fresh fruits contain acid and sugar, the excessive chewing they take to digest increases the production of saliva which in turn dilutes harmful acids inside the mouth and gets rid of the food efficiently.

Ø  Chew sugarless gum instead of those that are extremely sweet. Again, this helps in keeping sugar from staying inside the mouth and generates saliva that cleans the mouth.

Consuming important nutrients:

Apart from avoiding unhealthy foods, it is also essential to consume foods that maintain good dental health. We must realize that once our enamel is destroyed it cannot be repaired. But consuming a diet which is high on nutrients helps in preventing any further harm to the enamel, keeping the loss to a minimum. Most of the vitamins and nutrients found naturally in foods include:

Ø  Calcium - Calcium is extremely important when it comes to maintaining great dental hygiene as it helps in forming strong bones and teeth. This chemical element is particularly important for pregnant women looking to keep their bones healthy. Calcium can also be found in sardines, dark green leafy vegetables, low-fat milk and almonds.

Ø  Vitamin D - Vitamin D helps in absorbing calcium effectively. It is found in soy products, milk, sun exposure and salmon.

Ø  Vitamin A - Vitamin A assists in fighting disease and boosting the immune system. It is found in foods that are high in beta carotene, such as cantaloupe and carrots.

Ø  Vitamin C - Vitamin C is important in keeping our gums healthy. It can be found in citrus fruits, broccoli, tomatoes, and peppers.

Maintaining proper oral health:

Proper oral hygiene and bi-annual checkups are important components to our oral health. It is a good habit to floss and brush daily. We must also follow correct brushing techniques to ensure that the tooth enamel remains intact. If we have trouble reaching to some of the areas of our mouth, a dental water jet is a suitable choice. Also, it is important to go for cleaning appointments regularly so that any kind of decay is identified early and any problems in the future are prevented. As long as we stay proactive in maintaining our dental health, we will be able to enjoy our teeth for a long period of time.

The Importance of Dental Health Care

Oral wellbeing is one of the most ignored health areas in California. Most citizens do not realize the importance of taking good care of their teeth, gums and jaws. They believe brushing twice a day and keeping away from chocolates will suffice.  However, the truth is, brushing alone cannot help the teeth remain healthy. There is a lot more to dental health maintenance.

Common dental problems people face and their prevention:

There are a variety of dental issues that can affect an individual’s well-being. The most common are- cavities, gum disease and tooth decay. Fortunately, there are a variety of ways through which you can avoid oral hygiene problems. Here are some things that can be done to keep your gums and teeth healthy and in avoiding costly dental procedures.

Using green or black tea (unsweetened)

Green or black teas are very high in antioxidants that help in neutralizing free radicals in the oral tissues. However, it is important to make sure the tea is absolutely sugar-free.

Reducing consumption of sugary foods

It is a great idea to cut back on sweets of any sort. Bacteria inside the person’s mouth feed on glucose and produce acid that erodes enamel and cause disease and decay. More the quantity of sugar, more acid such bacteria produce. Hence, it’s important to keep the sweets minimum.

Getting enough vitamin D

Dairy products offer large doses of calcium. Calcium helps in keeping our bones healthy and strong, making it valuable for great oral hygiene. What most people fail to realize is that calcium requires vitamin D to be processed inside the body. If a person does not consume enough quantities of vitamin D, his/her body will not be able to receive complete benefits of the calcium. Fish such as tuna, salmon, and flounder have high quantities of vitamin D that help in processing calcium more effectively. Patients can also consume vitamin D supplements after consulting with a doctor.

Using Mouthwash daily

Using a mouthwash can be extremely helpful in destroying harmful bacteria. No matter how careful an individual is about flossing and brushing, it's next to impossible to reach difficult surfaces. A mouthwash can easily reach these areas and kill any bacterium that remains once the person has flossed and brushed.

Avoiding excessive smoking

Apart from the known hazards linked to smoking, the probability of throat or mouth cancer is increased greatly in those people who smoke. It is advised to quit as soon as one can and when one can.

Snacking on crunchy, fibrous fruits and vegetables

Foods such as carrots and apples do not just offer nutrients and vitamins they also act as scrubbers for teeth that are chewing on them. They help in cleaning off any debris or residue that might be sticking to teeth. They are believed to be a great option for snacking in-between meals. Several veggies and fruits also assist in providing vitamins that help in keeping one’s enamel and teeth strong.

Although taking precautions is a good idea, it is still advised to go to a reputed dentist for regular check-ups. In specialized dental clinics, patients undergo through preliminary check-up before being treated for a specific problem. Such specialized treatment does not only ensure complete relaxation but also makes sure that the problem is identified and treated properly with a lot of care. An expert squad at a dental hospital also keeps proper check on the hygiene level, the slip of which may prove to be extremely detrimental on the health of the patient. They also offer emergency services for the patients.