Flossing teeth once a day and brushing two or three times a day with fluoride toothpaste are the main oral hygiene strategies recommended for keeping teeth and gums healthy. Having professional teeth cleaning session once or twice a year is strongly encouraged. A practitioner of family dentistry in Utica, NY also knows how important a healthy diet is, including limiting the intake of sugary foods and beverages.
Healthy Snacking
Many dental patients sip on sugared soft drinks and snack on candy bars and other sweet foods while at work, school or home. Instead, it’s better for their teeth if they drink water or diet soda, and munch on some cheese or vegetables when they feel hungry between meals. This will help prevent the need for cavity filling at a clinic such as Family Dentistry Chestnut Hill. Instead, the routine checkup at the clinic should turn up no problems with tooth decay.
Preventing Enamel Discoloration
A person’s diet also has a significant effect on whether the teeth become discolored from surface stains. These can be removed through polishing and whitening at a clinic for family dentistry in Utica, NY, but preventive measures can help. Avoiding dark-colored drinks like coffee, black tea, red wine and grape juice prevents staining. A regular habit of chewing on dark berries can gradually stain teeth too.
Of course, someone who loves these substances probably doesn’t want to give them up. Rinsing the mouth with water and chewing sugar-free gum after indulging helps stop discoloration from developing. The person also might try limiting some of this food and beverage intake until soon before teeth brushing.
Vitamins and Minerals
Getting adequate vitamins and minerals is also essential for healthy teeth. A person may not be consuming enough vitamin D and calcium, for instance. This individual should increase the intake of calcium-rich foods like milk and green leafy vegetables, and fatty fish for the vitamin D content. Many other foods are fortified with calcium, and vitamin D. Vitamins A and C are especially helpful for keeping gums healthy. Fruits and vegetables are excellent sources of these vitamins, and vitamin A is also plentiful in fish and eggs.
