Dental Health
Diet
Do's:
- eat plenty of fruits and vegetables (vegetables in particular are great snacks because of their low sugar content)
- drink water between meals in place of other drinks (preferrably fluoridated water)
- chew sugarless gum between meals when brushing is not an option (avoid chewing gum if you suffer from TMJ discomfort)
Dont's:
- avoid snacking between meals
- avoid "sipping" on drinks other than water between meals
- many drinks, both regular and diet, have high acidity levels that slowly weaken teeth and make them more susceptible to developing cavities (tooth decay)
- saliva is great at cleaning teeth and can actually remineralizing areas of weakened tooth structure if given a chance, however constant bathing of teeth in acidic and/or sugary liquids does not allow your saliva to do its job and will often lead to cavities even if you brush and floss as recommended
- the sugars and/or acids pool between teeth and along the gum line . . . and consequently this is where the tooth decay usually occurs
- avoid crunching on ice and hard candies
Link(s)