Your smile can remain healthy and shining bright for a lifetime if you take good care of it. That means visiting Dr. Robson in Grand Rapids for regular checkups at least twice a year, brushing and flossing every day, and making healthy food choices.
Eating a variety of fruits and vegetables will provide your body with the right minerals to keep your teeth strong and the vitamins you need to maintain a healthy immune system. This will help your body fight off infections that can wreak havoc on your smile such as gum disease and tooth decay. It’s also essential to avoid foods that can damage your smile as much as possible.
Preventing Tooth Decay
Tooth decay is one of the most common diseases in the world. It’s especially prevalent in children and adolescents, but tooth decay can affect patients of all ages. But tooth decay can be easily prevented through a combination of good oral hygiene and the avoidance of foods that are high in carbohydrates such as processed sugar. Here are some of the most dangerous foods for your smile.
Sticky Candy, Sour Candy, and Hard Candy
Not all types of candy are equally damaging to your smile. For example, chocolate can contain a lot of sugar, but it’s not highly acidic and it doesn’t stick to your teeth the way other types of candy do. Hard candy and sticky candy, on the other hand, both remain on your teeth long after you finish eating them. This allows them to leave a residue of sugar on your teeth which feeds cavity-causing bacteria. This bacteria will break down the enamel and penetrate the inner layers of your teeth, causing cavities. Sour candy contains acid in addition to sugar. This acid also works to break down your enamel, increasing the damage the bacteria will do to your teeth.
Chips, Bread, and Crackers
Although we don’t commonly associate foods like chips, bread, and crackers with sugar, these foods are loaded with carbohydrates. In fact, these highly-processed foods can be extremely dangerous for your smile. That’s because they create a gooey film that gets stuck on and around your teeth, allowing bacteria to grow.
It’s a good idea to avoid snacking between meals as much as possible. When food is consumed as part of a meal, your body releases saliva which is designed to help fight cavities. If you do snack between meals, we recommend rinsing your smile with water to help remove food particles that can lead to cavities.
Healthy Smiles in Grand Rapids
Dr. Robson wants to help you maintain a healthy and beautiful smile. Call today to schedule your next checkup. And feel free to ask about how our cosmetic and restorative services such as porcelain veneers, professional whitening, tooth-colored fillings, and dental implants can help you achieve the smile of your dreams.