Growing up I can remember my Mother and Father reminding me to brush and floss after meals. At school and on television there were posters, cartoons, and various public service announcements to remind us to avoid plaque. Plaque was portrayed as the villain on many dental messages and the focus was on brushing and flossing to prevent it. This is true but this is not the only adversary to good dental health, beautiful teeth, and a radiant smile. There are other things which can hurt your teeth.
Acidity And Teeth
High concentrations of acidity can break down the enamel on teeth which causes tooth erosion. The cause of these concentrations are culprit foods that are acidic by nature. Dealing with acidity is every bit as important as dealing with plaque causing foods and should be treated as such.
Once the enamel is broken down,the underlying layer, called Dentin, is exposed to plaque and tooth decay. Here are some signs you need to schedule with Forest Dental Center in Lynchburg.
Detecting Tooth Erosion
Here are some noticeable signs of acid erosion. They are:
- Sensitive Teeth
- Rounded Edges on Teeth
- Yellow or discolored Teeth
- Dents and Cracks on Teeth
- Translucent Appearance Towards The Edge Of The Tooth
What Foods Do I Avoid?
Naturally there are foods you want to avoid. Here is a list of some of the foods you need to be careful with when it comes to controlling acidity levels in the mouth. They include:
- Sodas
- Lemons
- Red wine
- Oranges
- White wine
- Limes
- Lemon juice
- Orange juice
- Cranberry juice
- Apple Juice
Other Things You Can Do..
In addition to reducing foods that increase acidity there are some other things you can do for your dental health. Here are some items I pulled from the Oral Health Foundation website:
- Try to eat low acidity foods towards the end of the meal to balance acidic foods
- Wait at least 60 minutes after eating to brush your teeth if you have ingested high acidity foods or beverages
- If you must have acidic beverages combine them with mealtime to help increase the amount of non acidic foods you consume with them
- Trident, or other sugar free gum can help produce saliva if chewed after the meal which can help reduce acidity in the mouth
In Lynchburg
Have questions or do you some of the signs of tooth erosion. Schedule with Forest Dental Of Lynchburg for a checkup.