You brush and floss daily, visit the dentist frequently and eat a healthy diet. What else can you do to keep your oral health best? Drinking fluoridated water remains to be the most reliable and efficient way to protect against tooth decay, according to a report by the U.S. Surgeon General. If bottled water without fluoride is your family’s main source of drinking water, or if you have a filtration system in your home that eliminates fluoride from your tap water, ask your nearby dentist if you or your children should add fluoride to your diet.
Natural ways to add fluoride include eating and drinking commercially prepared foods and drinks that are enriched with fluoride. Using fluoridated toothpaste. Getting a professionally-applied gel or varnish. Taking fluoride supplements, available by prescription as tablets, drops or lozenges.
Another good way is chewing sugar-free gum when brushing and flossing aren’t effective. While chewing gum with sugar may help in developing a cavity, researches show the reverse is true with sugar-free gum, mainly if the chewing gum is mulled with xylitol. Chewing sugar-free gum after meals and snacks help clean off and neutralize the acids released by the bacteria in plaque, which are dangerous to tooth enamel. Sugar-free chewing gum or artificial sweeteners in the gum stimulate salivation at ten times its usual rate and also cleans out the food particles, helping to maintain your teeth clean.
Most people are unaware that drinking carbonated liquors, fruit juice and highly acidic foods like vinegar and honey can injure teeth. The acids in certain fruits and drinks can affect tooth enamel to fade away and teeth can become painful and discolored. Cleaning with water and chewing sugar-free gum are two methods to help neutralize the impacts of acidic foods and beverages.
If you must drink acidic beverages such as coke or soda, don’t swish them around or keep them in your mouth for a long time. Rather, swallow them immediately or use a straw. These are just a few suggestions to help you stay healthy and keep smiling. Visit our dentist in scottsdale to know more about your oral health.