Holiday Treats to Avoid at Parties

During the holidays, it is vital that you steer clear of the sweets table for the sake of your teeth and gums. When you munch on healthy party food, you will be more likely to get a green light the next time you see your dentist. However, it is easy to be tempted when it comes to holiday treats to avoid.

Keeping your teeth and gums healthy throughout the year is easy, but once those holiday parties start rolling around, it may be tough to stick to good oral hygiene. If you love the dried fruit that your grandmother sends you every year, be sure to rinse after you enjoy. That sticky fig will stay around much longer and can be hard to budge, even after you brush.

Try to avoid starchy foods as much as you can. Christmas cookies and cakes, and especially those fruitcakes that are both starchy and filled with the sticky fruit mentioned above. It’s double trouble when it comes to your Aunt Betty’s prized Brandied Fruit Cake.

Your dentist in Corona recommends sipping on water between those holiday drinks. That champagne punch may be delicious, but it can cause problems with your teeth. The sugar in the punch and the fizz in the bubbly can cause acid erosion on your teeth.

Good oral hygiene, including regular checkups with your dentist and enjoying a good healthy diet will go a long way in protecting your teeth and gums and your overall long-term oral health.

Pay attention to your teeth and gums. If you notice anything different, feel any pain, or have swollen or bleeding gums, it is essential that you see your dentist as quickly as possible. You may want to ignore that toothache until after the New Year, but skipping a dental checkup could cause further damage. If a dental emergency should occur, it is vital that you head to the dentist as quickly as possible.

Drinks that Can Eat Teeth

Your teeth are strong, but just like your bones, aren’t indestructible. What you eat, and especially what you drink, can play a huge roll in your overall mouth health. Good oral hygiene habits are essential for strong teeth, but so are the foods that you eat and the beverages that you drink.

Acidic Drink Danger

High pH levels are responsible for many oral health issues, but it all starts with the acids that can destroy the enamel on your teeth. Enamel erosion is a major problem, as it cannot be reversed. The outer layer of your teeth does not have living cells and is unable to heal itself.

When the enamel on your teeth begins to erode, the dentin that is underneath it will become exposed. Dentin is yellow in color, which could explain why your teeth will begin to discolor if you do not take proper care. Dentin exposure can also lead to tooth sensitivity. Tooth sensitivity cause pain when eating or drinking hot, cold, acidic, spicy, or even sweet food and drinks.

Acidic Drinks to Avoid

Soda-Although diet soda may be helping your waistline, it isn’t doing any good for your teeth. Diet soda is just as bad for enamel erosion as regular soda is. Even small amounts of diet or regular soda can damage teeth.

Fruit Juice-Citrus juices may have vitamins and minerals, but can also be loaded with sugar and tooth damaging acids. Your dentist in Corona explains that lime and lemon juice can be compared to battery acid.

Wine-Wine is also damaging and highly acidic. Red wine contains less acid than white does, but both should be enjoyed in moderation. Red wine can also stain your teeth.

Protection

If you want to keep the enamel on your teeth safe, your dentist in Corona recommends that you limit your intake of acidic drinks that contain high pH levels. Opt for tooth friendly low acid alternatives such as: 

• Water
• Milk
• Black Coffee
• Black Tea
• Green Tea 

If you have already damaged the enamel on your teeth from consuming acidic drinks, your dentist can help with restorative dental procedures such as cosmetic bonding, dental crowns, or porcelain veneers.

For more information regarding enamel protection and restoration, schedule a dental checkup with your dentist in Corona today. 

You Can Prevent Baby Bottle Tooth Decay

If your baby or toddler has a habit of falling asleep with a baby bottle in his or her mouth baby bottle tooth decay could happen, especially if the bottle is filled with juice, soda, formula, or milk. Baby teeth are just as important as adult teeth and need to be looked after just as carefully.

According to The American Dental Association, baby bottle tooth decay occurs when natural sugars or sweetened liquids cling to a baby or toddlers teeth for long periods. Mouth bacteria thrive on sugar converting it to acid that will attack teeth.

Children who fall asleep with a bottle during naptime or at night or kids who have their pacifiers dipped in syrup or sugar are at risk when it comes to baby bottle decay. Giving babies sugary drinks at bedtime is especially risky because saliva flow is reduced during sleep.

Although baby bottle tooth decay usually occurs in front teeth, other baby teeth could also be affected.

Baby teeth may be temporary, but they are just as important. Baby teeth help your children speak, chew, and smile. Baby teeth also act as a placeholder for adult or permanent teeth. If baby bottle tooth decay isn’t taken care of, infection and pain may result. If the decay is too bad, the teeth may have to go.

If teeth are infected or even lost due to baby bottle decay, your baby could develop bad eating habits, crooked teeth, and speech problems and even damaged permanent teeth. With that being said, there are some things you can do to help prevent baby bottle tooth decay.

• Wipe your baby’s gums with a washcloth after feeding
• Start brushing your baby or toddlers teeth without toothpaste when the first tooth erupts
• Massage and clean gums that don’t have teeth
• Floss once your baby’s teeth have all come in
• Make sure that your baby or toddler is getting enough fluoride
• Schedule regular checkups with your dentist by your baby’s first birthday
• Ask your dentist about dental sealants which can help prevent cavities 

If you would like more information about baby bottle tooth decay, talk to your dentist today. 

Healthy Teeth for the Rest of Your Life

Your dentist explains that keeping your mouth healthy throughout your entire life doesn’t have to be difficult, especially if you follow good oral hygiene habits and know what to expect at any age.

Mothers who are expecting can give their kids a healthy start by taking calcium supplements and eating healthy foods. According to the American Dental Association, folic acid supplements also help to decrease the risk of your child being born with a cleft palate or cleft lip. Once your baby is born, wipe the gums using a damp and soft cloth. Doing so after feeding helps prevent bacteria build up. Your child’s teeth usually emerge around six months. Once this occurs brush the baby’s teeth using a baby tooth brush twice a day. Begin taking your baby to the dentist when they are about 12 months old. Other important habits to establish throughout childhood include a diet full of fresh fruits and veggies and calcium rich foods such as kale and cheese to help protect the tooth’s enamel.

According to the ADA, an astounding one third of American adults have tooth decay. It is imperative that you see your dentist twice a year, as early detection is vital. Tooth decay can be painless, especially during the early stages, and can only be detected during a dental checkup. Gum disease, which can lead to the periodontal disease, can cause bone loss and should be taken care of as quickly as possible. If your gums bleed and are red or swollen, schedule an appointment with your dentist as quickly as possible. If you have diabetes, suffer from epilepsy, or have high blood pressure, you may need to see your dentist more often. If you drink bottled water, ask your dentist about fluoride supplements as fluoride can help strengthen your teeth.

Older adults need to pay close attention to their teeth and gums and see the dentist on a regular basis for oral cancer screenings. Older adults, especially those who drink alcohol on a regular basis or smoke, have an increased risk of oral and throat cancer. Older adults are also more susceptible to dry mouth thanks to certain medications that could affect oral health. If you wear dentures schedule regular appointments with your dentist so they can be checked periodically for fit.

These days’ people are living longer, but that all starts with good oral hygiene, which includes brushing twice and flossing once each day. Schedule an appointment with your dentist today.