Smile, Talk and Eat – The Importance of Your Teeth!
You are always told to take care of them, you use them everyday and you only get one set- your teeth! With summer coming to an end, it’s important to make sure you go into the cold season prepared and knowledgeable.
Eat Right!
During the cold season, we tend to go for warmer foods because they provide more comfort than salads and fresh fruits. If you do opt for warmer foods, make sure you don’t eliminate healthy foods that are rich in vitamins. Your daily diet should contain foods that are rich in vitamin A, vitamin C, and vitamin E. Raw spinach and kale may not top your list of comfort foods, but these vegetables actually grow best in cool-weather seasons like fall and winter. What’s more, they’re very healthy for your teeth. Spinach, kale, collard greens — these and other high-fiber vegetables help ‘wash’ our teeth by requiring more chewing, which produces more saliva, a natural lubricant for our teeth. Cheese contains casein, a protein with protective properties that helps fight cavities. It also contains calcium and phosphorus, which promote teeth re-mineralization, a naturally occurring process that helps prevent cavities.
Enjoy Halloween, just not too much. Candy may be a Halloween staple, but dentists stress that you should limit or avoid it due to its high sugar content. Bacteria in your mouth feed on sugar, producing acid that harms your teeth by wearing away the enamel. If you do indulge in sweets, be sure to follow it up with drinking water or, even better, brushing and flossing.
Come in For a Check Up and Teeth Cleaning
As we start to put away summer toys, get the rake out for falling leaves and do inventory on coats, hats and mitts. Take the time to account for your oral health. Come visit us at our Chinook Mall Family Dental Clinic office. Let us know of any concerns you have or changes you feel in your mouth, jaw, gums or teeth. With end of year approaching you may be pleased to see you have unused dental benefits that still may be available. And after your check up what a great way to finish an appointment off then with a teeth cleaning. What a great feeling. Here are five things a cleaning can do for you-
Prevent cavities
The whitish film that builds up on your teeth is called plaque and is the leading cause of tooth decay. This acidic substance eats away at the tooth enamel and, if left unattended, can lead to cavities. Plaque can be removed by brushing, flossing and dental cleanings.
Stop tooth loss
Gum disease, which starts with built-up plaque, is a major cause of tooth loss in adults. As gum disease advances, plaque moves further down the tooth where it can destroy the supporting bone in your jaw, causing teeth to loosen and fall out. Luckily, the chance of this happening to you can be greatly reduced through regular dental cleanings combined with good oral hygiene habits.
Brighten your smile
Drinking coffee, tea and wine or using tobacco can stain your teeth. A dental cleaning can remove built-up stains and leave you with freshly polished teeth. The result? A whiter, brighter smile!
Freshen your breath
Good oral hygiene is the best way to prevent persistent bad breath. Even if you brush and floss regularly, getting a cleaning is a great way to keep your mouth healthy and odor-free.
Boost your overall health
Studies have shown a connection between oral and overall health. Regular dental cleanings may help lower your risk for some diseases, like heart disease and stroke. Many medical conditions, some of them life-threatening, can be detected in their early stages by your dentist during a routine oral exam.
Autumn is such a cozy, relaxing and inviting time of year. It’s a time of changing colors, great seasonal treats, corn mazes, and great holidays like Halloween and Thanksgiving. Enjoy the warmth of your home and please make sure to come see us.
