We’ve all heard about the importance of strong enamel to avoid tooth decay. But, even still, most adults don’t do a very good job brushing their teeth and keeping them clean. Here are some tips that will help you do a better job.
Limit Sugary Foods
Bacteria in your mouth feed on sugar from foods and liquids you put in there. They then make acids softening and wearing away your enamel. Chewy candies are some of the worst offenders because the sugar sits right on your teeth. Soft drinks might have additional acids in them, causing direct damage.
If you regularly consume sugary drinks, stop. And, if you experience pain from eating or drinking anything, you should visit an emergency dentist in Chicago — you have a dental problem requiring immediate attention.
More than likely, it’s that your enamel is wearing away and exposing the root or the underlying tooth structure. While it might not seem serious, bacteria can get in there easily to cause an infection, which can lead to very serious complications.
If you’re thirsty, the best drink is a plain glass of water. Boring, but most people need it and it’s the gentlest on teeth. By controlling these bad foods, you’ll go a long way toward protecting your enamel.
Eat Protective Foods
It’s not hard to find protective foods. Most people don’t eat enough of them though. Foods high in calcium should be favored over low calcium foods, for example. But, it’s not always obvious what those foods are. So, for example, you should eat more broccoli and cauliflower because of its high mineral content. More nuts would help too, since they are rich in calcium and magnesium.
And, while most people will go for a quick glass of milk, milk also contains a lot of sugar, in the form of lactose, which can damage teeth. And, milk doesn’t contain as much calcium as many other green vegetables.
What Your Mouth Says About You
Milk, cheese, and other dairy products may strengthen enamel due to their calcium and mineral content. And, while most people opt for low fat versions (even many nutritional experts recommend low fat), the reality is you need substantial amounts of fat to build bones and teeth. Reason being is the calcium alone will not work to promote bone and tooth re-mineralization.
You also need vitamin D, vitamin K2 (which directs calcium in the body), and other fat-soluble vitamins. These fat-soluble vitamins require fat (logically).
If you don’t get enough in your diet (and you need way more than you think), your body can’t function optimally.
Avoid Over-Brushing
You can wear down your enamel just by brushing too fast or hard. Hold the brush with soft bristles at a 45 degree angle and brush that way.
Floss
Always floss after every meal. Period. Get deep into the gum pockets and keep working the floss until your teeth squeak. Then, move onto the next tooth until all of them are done. It should take you about 5 minutes or so to hit them all.
Carl Bennett works as a dental assistant and knew from a young age that he wanted to be in a caring role at work, at one point looking to become a nurse. He likes helping people and takes that a step further through his articles.
