Having a great looking smile means looking after your teeth well, brushing and flossing regularly and having regular check ups and hygienist visits at our Burton dental clinic. In addition to this, some people might want to improve their smile further through cosmetic treatments such as teeth whitening or veneers.<\/p>\n
Another key factor in having healthy teeth and an attractive smile, is in what we eat and drink. A poor diet can destroy your teeth, especially when combined with poor oral care. In today\u2019s blog, we are going to look at some of the worst offenders. It isn\u2019t a comprehensive list but keeping these in mind when shopping or eating out will provide a good start to a healthy tooth friendly diet.<\/p>\n
This one is obvious. Sugar is very harmful for our teeth and too much or too often will very likely lead to tooth decay among other things.\u00a0 It is easy enough to cut out some sugars by not eating sweets etc, but sugar is in so many things these days, and not just sweet foods but often savoury too. It is so prevalent that it is almost impossible to avoid altogether but that doesn\u2019t mean you can\u2019t cut down. Avoiding too many sweet products is a good start and, for example, avoiding the \u2018specialist\u2019 coffees that have syrups and sprinkles. Just monitor what you buy and consume, and remember that any reduction is a move in the right direction.<\/p>\n
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Sticky foods are often sugary ones as well. But all foods that are sticky provide an extra problem in that they are not removed easily from the surface of our teeth after eating. Barbeque sauces etc can remain on and between our teeth for some time after eating. It is best to eat these as infrequently as possible and if you do eat them, try to swill your mouth with water soon after eating to remove as much as possible. Good quality cleaning, both brushing and flossing is essential but keeping them to a minimum is the best approach to take.<\/p>\n
Patients who have read our SG Dental and Implant Centre<\/a> blogs before, will have come across the issue of how fizzy carbonated drinks can cause enamel erosion that can contribute to sensitive teeth and make tooth decay more likely. As these are popular, and especially in the type of hot weather we have been having recently, we make no apology for mentioning it again. Hydration is best achieved by the consumption of water. This will also wash away some sugars too. Only consume sugary fizzy drinks as a \u2018treat\u2019 if you have to do so at all.<\/p>\n Refined products such as white bread and cakes etc lack fibre and this causes them to become quite sticky and become trapped in the gaps between our teeth. You can help to minimise this by eating crunchy vegetables such as celery or raw carrots but also by using dental floss. This is unfortunately used by far too few people in the UK but is a simple thing that can make a big difference to your teeth and gums. If you struggle to floss, ask our friendly hygienist to show you how.<\/p>\n Aside from any sugar or acidity content that is harmful to teeth in these products, the reason why some people avoid, or minimise consumption of these products is that they stain your teeth. They are not the only ones of course but are some of the worst culprits (as well as smoking). Some discolouration may be resolved using a teeth whitening<\/a> procedure if necessary if your teeth are already stained. Porcelain veneers are also another option for anyone with stained teeth.<\/p>\n Finally, we want to finish on foods that are generally considered to be good for you, just to show that even when this is the case, caution should be exercised if you want to protect your teeth. Citrus fruits are a good example of this (and we include fruit juices here too). These fruits are full of goodness and an excellent source of vitamin C and fibre. However, they are also very acidic and eating\/drinking too many of these can damage the enamel surface of your teeth. This can not only cause erosion of the tooth enamel but creates a rough surface which enables staining products to become attached more easily. While the same might apply, to a degree, with dried fruits, the main issue here is the \u2018sticky\u2019 factor. These are almost as likely as toffees to get stuck between the teeth and can be difficult to remove, sometimes leading to tooth decay and gum disease. Many parents give their children raisins etc as a healthy alternative to sweets but they can be just as harmful to teeth as sweets if eaten in excess.<\/p>\n Naturally, we don\u2019t expect our Burton patients to cut out all of these from their diet altogether; that would be unrealistic, but it is very useful to understand this factor so that you can choose more wisely and perhaps at the very least reduce your consumption of them.<\/p>\n Even a \u2018perfect\u2019 tooth friendly diet still requires professional supervision by a dentist and hygienist. If you would like to make an appointment for either at the SG Dental and Implant Centre, please call us today on 01283 845356<\/strong>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Good oral health care is essential for healthy teeth, but there are some foods to be avoided that will also help. Having a great looking smile means looking after your teeth well, brushing and flossing regularly and having regular check …<\/p>\nRefined carbs<\/h3>\n
Red wine, Tea & coffee<\/h3>\n
Citrus and dried fruits<\/h3>\n