To help keep your smile safe, it is important to know the risk factors associated with dietary choices. Several unhealthy foods we consume can do damage not only to your waistline, but they can also harm your gum line. This is because plaque and bacteria in your mouth can often convert them into harmful acids, or the products may simply be too hard to bite into. To keep your smile safe, you may want to exercise caution with unhealthy snacks and sweets.
One of the largest risk factors with foods we consume is due to acids and dental erosion. Dental erosion occurs when acids in your mouth slowly wear down your tooth enamel. If your tooth enamel is worn down, you could be at an increased risk for cavities, pulp death and even tooth loss. Thus, it is important to always keep your mouth clean and free of harmful acids. Be aware that foods and drinks with lots of sugars and carbs can be converted into acids. Similarly, extremely sour sweets and acidic snacks can also lead to severe dental erosion.
Your risk for dental erosion may increase if you are routinely eating sticky and chewy sweets or foods that can get lodged between your teeth and gums. This is because the longer that these products are lingering in your mouth, the longer that damage can occur. They are also often difficult to brush and floss away.
Another known risk factor to your oral health arises due to hard products. You shouldn’t try to bite into substances that can easily chip and crack your teeth. If you are not careful, you may up causing severe dental damage in seconds simply by trying to bite into a product that is not soft enough.
When you are ready to take the plunge into your quest for a superb smile, come speak with Robert Moore Family Dentistry to discuss unhealthy food avoidance tips. To schedule an oral exam with Dr. Robert Moore and our team at our dentist office in Stillwater, Oklahoma, please give us a call at 405-743-4664.