Dental hygiene is often emphasized when discussing mouth health. But did you realize that how you FEED your mouth is just as important as how you CLEAN your mouth? Here are some things to remember as you strive for the healthiest mouth possible.
You’ve heard it before, and you’ll hear it again here: drink a lot of water. Drinking water cleans out food particles and other debris from your mouth, washing away sugars and acids that cause tooth enamel damage. Staying hydrated also has many other general health benefits!
Second, limit your sugar and acid intake. They both contribute to tooth erosion, though in different ways. Sugar feeds bacteria that live in your mouth, which produce an acidic byproduct. This acid eats away at your tooth enamel until it causes a cavity. Acid from foods and drinks–especially highly acidic drinks such as sports drinks, wine, and fruit juice–can also eat away at your enamel directly. If you decide to indulge in sugary or acidic foods on occasion, eat them with a meal. Foods that are eaten with a meal cause less damage to your teeth than snacks do, as more saliva is produced during a meal. Saliva cleans your mouth a neutralizes acids. Additionally, accompany all sugary or acidic foods with a tall glass of water.
Third, choose to eat dairy if you can. Dairy is packed with calcium and other nutrients that help teeth. As an added benefit, most dairy is naturally low in sugars. This makes it particularly beneficial.
For more information, call Kaitilin Riley DDS in Paso Robles, California, at 805-238-3880. Dr. Kaitilin Riley and our team want to help you eat well for a healthy smile!
