foods_for_oral_health_McMinnville
15 Jul 2022

Oral Health and Your Diet

What you eat plays a huge role for overall health, but did you know that your diet plays a massive role in the health of your teeth and gums as well? All About Smiles explains that oral health and overall health are connected with the link being gum disease.

Gum Disease Overall and Oral Health

Because gum disease causes bacteria, plaque and tartar the rest of your body is susceptible to it as well. Moreover, that plaque and tartar could be attaching itself to the walls of your blood vessels and the lining in your heart.

According to Dr. Francis Golly, your diet can help you keep your teeth and gums healthy, but it isn’t always the foods you expect that can be bad for teeth.

Below is a list of foods for teeth that should be avoided or limited.

Dried Fruits and Trail Mix

Always a favorite for people on the run, dried fruit and trail mix with sticky goodies will cause problems for oral health.

Because figs, apricots, mangos and other types of dried fruits get stuck between the cracks and crevices it makes it difficult to keep your teeth clean. If you must enjoy rinse with water afterwards to get rid of what you can.

Starchy Foods and Oral Health

Everyone loves a big soft pretzel, everyone except your teeth. Pretzels, chips, cookies, cakes, donuts, bread and other types of starchy foods love to stay behind long after you have had a bite.

All About Smiles recommends rinsing with water or eat as part of a meal. Try brushing your teeth as well if you indulge in too many starchy foods.

Soda and Energy Drinks

Loaded with sugar and acid, soda, including diet, and energy drinks, will damage teeth over time. Add a straw to the mix and you are asking for trouble. A straw allows the sugar and acid to stay on your teeth for longer periods of time.

Energy drinks and soda will also wear away the enamel on your teeth because of the acid and carbonation. Drink more water and your oral health will thank you for it.

Citrus Fruits

Everyone knows an apple a day keeps the doctor away. Apples are also very good for teeth, but other fruits, not so much.

Keep oranges, limes, lemons, grapefruits and Kiwi fruit to a minimum and try to eat as part of a meal to keep the acid at bay. Citrus is notorious for enamel erosion, especially for those who love to suck on lemons.

Oral Health Care McMinnville

The best way to keep your oral health in check is to brush, floss, eat a good diet and schedule regular dental checkups with All About Smiles. Haven’t had one lately? Make an appointment today.

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14 Feb 2019

Tooth Sensitivity Can Be a Real Pain

Tooth Sensitivity Can Be a Real Pain

Tooth sensitivity is a common problem, but you don’t have to suffer in silence. There are many treatments available that can that can have you enjoying your favorite foods again in no time.
Tooth sensitivity can have many causes including:
  • Enamel loss along the gum line – Clenching, grinding, and brushing too hard or with a hard-bristled toothbrush can cause the thin enamel along the gum line to wear away. Under the tooth enamel lies a layer of dentin. Dentin’s composition is much like our bones. Hard, yet porous. It is made of tiny tubules which act like pathways to the pulp and nerve of our teeth. When exposed, they send signals to the nerve in the form of pain to let you know that the protective enamel is no longer there.
  • Tooth decay – A small cavity in the enamel of a tooth is generally an easy fix, but if left to grow, it can cause excruciating pain. Once the decay has eaten away at the enamel into the dentin, it can cause pain. If ignored, it can reach the pulp chamber, or nerve of the tooth, resulting in a constant ache made worse but sudden changes in temperature from food or drink.
  • Fractured teeth or worn or missing fillings – A broken tooth, worn or broken fillings allow liquids, saliva, and food to seep into the crack or hole in your tooth causing discomfort. Even a small fracture can cause a lot of pain.
  • Gum disease – Periodontal disease causes the gums to shrink back exposing a protective layer called cementum that covers the root of your tooth. The roots of our teeth are much softer than the enamel that protects the tops of our teeth and are much more susceptible to decay. When gum disease is present, the gums recede exposing this sensitive area that can cause extreme sensitivity even when breathing cold air.
  • Neglect and lack of professional checkups – Neglecting your oral hygiene routine and not seeing a dental professional for regular cleanings and exams can also cause tooth sensitivity. When you don’t brush well or at all, plaque builds up on your teeth and hardens, turning into calculus, also called tartar. Once this happens, no homecare routine can remove it. Gum tissue doesn’t like calculus and can’t “breathe,” so it shrinks away from the root of the tooth not only exposing the root to sensitivity but kicking off the cycle of gum disease.

Fortunately, there are also many ways to treat tooth sensitivity that are quick, painless, and cost-effective. Depending on the level of sensitivity and the cause, your dentist may recommend a desensitizing toothpaste or fluoride gel as a first step to help ease the pain. There are many on the market today with varying strengths from over-the-counter to those that need a prescription. If the cause is due to clenching or grinding, you may need to wear an appliance at night to prevent further damage to your teeth. Sometimes, more intensive procedures are necessary to alleviate the sensitivity. Root canals, gum grafts or a crown may be needed to fix the problem.

In some cases, tooth sensitivity can be avoided altogether by using the softest toothbrush recommended by your dentist, gentle brushing (not scrubbing), flossing regularly, and seeing your hygienist and dentist at least every six months. By working together with your dental professionals, your mouth can be pain-free and can keep you smiling for years to come.

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