Eating habits that protect your teeth
The vast majority of foods, including vegetables or milk, contain sugars and are therefore likely to decay our teeth. It is even more important with added sugars, present for example in sodas or pastries.
Why is sugar bad for teeth?
Sugars, in contact with plaque bacteria, naturally present in your mouth, turn into acids capable of dissolving the crystals of tooth enamel, which can even lead to the formation of a « hole »… The famous cavity! This process is called demineralization.
Beyond limiting your sugar intake, the small gestures below will also allow you to maintain your oral health!
– Hydration: This is a valid tip in any situation! Indeed, drinking water will allow you to eliminate some of the acids present in your mouth. Also, don’t hesitate to rinse your mouth after any food intake to remove these acids but also stagnant food debris on the surface of your teeth. Don’t forget that the best thing to do is to brush your teeth after each meal!
– Limit your consumption of sodas: These drinks are not really our allies for a healthy and healthy mouth! Indeed, beyond their very high sugar content, they contain acids in their composition, weakening your enamel even more… And beware… This is true whether they are sweet or light!
– Avoid snacking: snacking, which generally includes foods that are too sweet, too fatty or too salty, is accompanied by a very high acid level, significantly increasing the risk of cavities.
– Remember to limit acids: To do this, we recommend adding plain water to your fruit juices, which are very rich in acids. You can also prefer to consume these drinks through a straw, thus limiting direct contact with the teeth.
– Avoid foods that stick to your teeth: Caramels, chocolate or dried fruit, beyond their sweet content, are foods that cling to your teeth. Without rinsing the mouth, the teeth will therefore remain in prolonged contact with the acids produced by the sugars and therefore promote the appearance of cavities.
– Promote your salivary production: Saliva plays a decisive role in our mouth and helps normalize acid levels. It is therefore essential to stimulate your saliva production by chewing food for a long time or chewing sugar-free chewing gum (from the age of 6)
– Brush your teeth well: In addition to brushing your teeth well 2 times a day for 2 minutes, it is recommended not to brush your teeth immediately after meals or after ingesting a sugary drink. It is best to brush your teeth about half an hour after a food intake. Indeed, the enamel being weakened after a meal, brushing can cause abrasion of the teeth.
– Limit your coffee consumption: From a completely aesthetic point of view, coffee, tea, spices or red wine can stain your teeth. It is therefore strongly recommended to drink water and rinse your mouth after consuming these products.
Frequency of visits to your dentist
A visit to the practice should be made every 12 months. This interval is valid for anyone who does not suffer from any particular dental pathology. Be careful, however… This frequency can vary according to several criteria:
– Age
– History (known pathologies)
– Risk factors (poor diet, tobacco consumption,…)
Dental prophylaxis
Under this term, which may seem quite barbaric, there is actually a method intended to prevent frequent oral diseases (cavities, loosening, etc.), to avoid them or to limit their consequences. This technique makes it possible, through the implementation of regular check-ups, scaling or planing or personalized advice, to put an end to emergency appointments or toothaches!
