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Your Ringwood Dentist Ideas: What to eat to NOT lose your teeth!

April 29, 2018 Uncategorized

Can you imagine losing your teeth and having to wear dentures? Not if we can help it! Ethos Dental, your dentist in ringwood has some ideas to keep your teeth healthy and strong!

Eating the right foods can help your teeth last longer mostly by having a positive effect on saliva production and limiting acid formation. Decay and gum disease causing bacteria love acidic environments and sugar. By tipping the oral environment towards neutral or alkaline the likelihood of getting decay or gum disease is greatly diminished.

Foods to eat:

• Dairy products: It is known to contain lots of calcium, which help strengthen the tooth enamel. Calcium and phosphate contained in dairy products can help to remineralise enamel. It can also increase the quality and quantity of saliva production to prevent tooth decay, neutralise any acid and reduce the number of bacteria in the mouth
• Crunchy fruits and vegetables: There are two ways that crunchy food can benefit teeth by firstly, the texture wipes away bacteria that can cause plaque, and second the chewing motion increases the production of saliva.
• Vitamin C: 75-90 mg of vitamin C per day strengthens blood vessels and connective tissue. Vitamin C also slows down the progression of gingivitis by reducing inflammation. It is proven that people who have the recommended amount are less likely to have gingivitis. Having at least one piece of citrus fruit or kiwi daily will help meet the minimum recommended amount.
• Vitamin D: Sunlight is needed to produce vitamin D in our bodies. Just 5 mins of sunshine daily is enough to top up vitamin D levels. People deficient in vitamin D are more likely to have weaker jaw bones and more likely to have severe gum disease. Just another excuse to get out and get some some fresh air and exercise.
• Chocolate: It was being proven that there is a compound called CBH in dark chocolate (needs to be at least 70% cacao) that helps to harden tooth enamel. Chocolate which is high in sugar, for example milk chocolate obviously NOT recommended.
• Water: Everyone knows water is good for the body and it is no different for teeth and gums. Saliva is made up of 99.5% of water, the optimum levels of water in saliva are essential to properly break down food, neutralise bacterial acid and prevent tooth decay. Dehydration can thicken saliva which can result into bad breath and favourable environment for disease causing bacteria . Tap water also contains 1 part per million of fluoride which research has shown to be the optimum amount to help reduce cavities in teeth. Although fluoride is not necessary for all patients it does help in those cases which are at high risk.