What we eat directly impacts our mouths in terms of acidity and bacteria due to the pH of our
saliva, which nourishes teeth. However, what we eat also indirectly affects our mouths through
the nutrients we absorb from the food we consume.

So what are you waiting for? You can give your smile a boost with the following eating habits to
nourish both smile and body for life!

Getting Enough Protein

Protein is an essential building block for just about everything in your body—from bones and
muscles to hormones and enzymes, your body needs protein.

However, your smile needs protein too. This is because protein plays a key role in healing
tissues of the body. This includes the connective tissue in your mouth as well as your tooth
structure. Protein can support a healthy smile through proper consumption.

Good sources of protein include chicken, fish, eggs, grass-fed beef, and yogurt. For plant-based
diets, beans, nuts, seeds, quinoa, and tofu are all excellent sources.

Eating Foods with Calcium and Vitamin D

Calcium and vitamin D are both essential nutrients that might help strengthen your tooth
enamel, which is made of mostly calcium. Calcium pairs with vitamin D to help tooth enamel,
the immune system, and connective tissue.

Good sources of calcium include yogurt, cheese, and milk, while plant-based sources include
kale, tofu, almonds, and broccoli. For vitamin D, fish is one of the highest sources, especially
salmon and sardines, along with milk and eggs. Vegan sources include mushrooms, tofu, and
fortified almond and soy milk.

Don’t Forget Your Vitamin C

An essential vitamin for immune system function, it also helps with collagen (think anti-aging)
and this component of vitamin C helps the ligaments that hold your teeth in place. Your
immune system also plays an essential role in fighting gum disease!

Good sources of vitamin C include bell peppers, broccoli, papaya, kiwi, oranges, and
strawberries. Remember that while fruit juices are also high in vitamin C, these juices can be
just as damaging to your tooth enamel as soda, so minimize sugary juices without the fiber.

Omega-3 Fats

Fortunately, these healthy fats are included in some of the other foods we discussed. Omega-3
fatty acids help your body with an anti-inflammatory response to help support the immune
system, decrease inflammation, and fight bacteria all while supporting the connective tissue in
your mouth.

Great sources include fish (mackerel and salmon are the highest), tuna, anchovies, and egg
yolks. Plant-based sources include walnuts, chia seeds, flaxseeds, avocado, and hemp seeds.

Are you eating for a super smile? Impress your dentist at your next checkup by nourishing both
your body and your smile with these healthy eating habits. Simply by getting enough protein,
calcium, and healthy fats in conjunction with essential vitamins D and C, you can help your
smile remain strong and beautiful for life!

The post Eating Habits That Will Promote Your Oral Health appeared first on Your Dental Health Resource.

White Spots

As our teeth are constantly exposed to acidic foods, our enamel takes a beating. Brushing and flossing our teeth helps to keep the bad bacteria away, but depending on our diet and dental hygiene, tooth enamel can still get damaged even with regular care.

When enamel is damaged, you can often see a white spot on your tooth that’s a different color from the rest of your teeth. This is a sign that your enamel has been damaged and a cavity may soon be forming. This stage of tooth decay is reversible!

Enamel Decay

During enamel decay, your tooth enamel will start breaking down beneath the surface. If enamel decay persists, the surface of the tooth will be affected, at which point the damage is irreversible. Once you notice that your enamel has been damaged—which is usually evident by a dark spot on the tooth—the cavity will need to be repaired by your dentist with a filling. The smaller your cavity is, the easier your dentist will be able to fill the hole without any additional problems.

Dentin Decay

Dentin is a softer component of your tooth that’s protected by your tooth enamel. However, once enamel decay has taken place, the dentin is now subject to harm. This is when the decay moves past your tooth enamel and into the dentin.

Although this stage isn’t reversible, your dentist is still able to repair this damage with a simple filling. If your tooth decay is left to progress beyond this point, you’ll begin experiencing the pain of a toothache and perhaps even pulp infection.

Infection of the Pulp

After the decay goes through your enamel and your dentin, the next tissue it has left to reach is your tooth pulp. Your tooth pulp is essentially the living part of your tooth that houses connective tissue and nerves. Your tooth pulp will get infected as a result of the decay, which can cause pus and death of the blood vessels and nerves inside the tooth. At this point, the tooth begins to die and a filling will no longer fix the problem—you’ll need root canal therapy to save the tooth.

Abscess

If the problem still progresses beyond this point, the infection will eat through your tooth pulp and begin to infect the bones and ligaments that support the tooth. This is painful for most patients. This causes a pocket of infection that will be physically visible on the outside of your gums or even your cheeks. At this point, a root canal could still save the tooth, or you may need to have the tooth extracted.

Throughout these five stages, you have plenty of opportunity to stop the decay as well as to treat it. Once the enamel is damaged, your dentist will need to fill in the tooth. Notice the white spots that could mean enamel damage, and always get regular checkups with your dentist to catch cavities while they’re still small!

The post The Five Stages of Cavity Formation appeared first on Your Dental Health Resource.

Luckily, dry socket after wisdom tooth removal is very rare and only happens in about 5% of people who have their wisdom teeth removed. Symptoms include facial pain near the extraction site, sensitivity to temperature, and increased pain about two or three days after the surgery. Dry socket needs to be treated by your oral surgeon or dentist, as it will lead to a longer and more painful healing experience. Here are some tips to effectively avoid dry socket and have your mouth heal up quickly after wisdom tooth removal!

Take It Easy

Vigorous exercise or strenuous activity can dislodge the blood clots protecting your extraction sites. It’s crucial that you rest following your wisdom tooth removal. Dry socket can happen to just one extraction site, or it can happen to all four, so you need to be careful. Experts recommend avoiding exercise or strenuous activity for at least one day following the procedure, but it’s important to listen to your body and rest for as long as you feel you need to.

Rinse Gently

It’s inevitable that you’ll need to rinse your mouth after the procedure from brushing and perhaps doing salt water rinses. When you do rinse, do it very gently. Swishing forcefully can cause the blood clots to abandon the site and you’ll be left with exposed bones. Gentle brushing and oral care is vital, and take care to rinse gently after brushing or with your salt water rinses.

Avoid Straws and Smoking

Sucking actions by the mouth can remove blood clots as well. For this reason, you’ll want to avoid straws and smoking. If you’re a daily smoker, do your best to avoid smoking for at least 24 hours following the procedure, and talk with your dentist about resources for quitting. Forceful spitting can also create a sucking action in the mouth and is best avoided.

Do Not Touch or Brush the Affected Area

There’s no reason to touch your extraction sites following the procedure. Your oral surgeon will have packed the area with gauze to help a blood clot form and protect your bone. It’s best to avoid contact with the area until your wounds are healed. Also, avoid brushing the area. Salt water rinses can help to remove bacteria, but follow your oral surgeon’s instructions for healing.

Eat the Right Foods

There are certain foods that are best avoided post wisdom tooth surgery. These involve foods that can leave small particles in your mouth, including popcorn or peanuts. You’ll also want to avoid sticky foods such as candy. Soft foods that are easy to eat such as soups, yogurt, and smoothies can be soothing as well as protect your extraction site.

You can effectively avoid dry socket after wisdom tooth removal by following these tips! Always contact your oral surgeon if your pain increases rather than subsides after a few days. By being gentle with your mouth, eating soft foods, and resting, your wisdom teeth extraction sites will heal up quickly and you can avoid dry socket!

Image courtesy of Artur84 at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

The post Tips to Avoid Dry Socket After Wisdom Tooth Removal appeared first on Your Dental Health Resource.

Impacted Wisdom Teeth

Impacted wisdom teeth happen when there’s not enough space in your mouth for your wisdom teeth to come through your jaw and take their place with your other teeth. When this happens, you can suffer from migraines, painful inflammation or cysts around your gums, and even crooked teeth! When there’s not enough space for the teeth to come through, they begin pushing against your other teeth. Ignoring your wisdom teeth’s arrival in your mouth could put any orthodontic work you had done at risk or even lead to gum infections and cavities.

Cavities and Gum Problems

If you allow your wisdom teeth to come in, you could experience cavities. Wisdom teeth are often difficult to brush and properly clean due to their location in the mouth. This can create infections and swollen gums from the buildup of plaque and bad bacteria. As you get older, wisdom teeth become more permanent and solid in your mouth, making them even more difficult to remove as time goes on. Ignoring any swollen, red, or bleeding gums as a result of your wisdom teeth could put your whole mouth at risk for gingivitis or periodontal disease.

Sinus Health Problems and Headaches

Wisdom teeth are known for being painful as they grow in, but what many patients don’t know is that wisdom teeth can indirectly lead to migraines and sinus problems. As the wisdom teeth come in, the way you chew and bite may change, which can lead to pressure on unexpected places in your jaw. Tense muscles from the pain of wisdom teeth could lead to headaches, which may be occasional or persisting.

Some people who leave their wisdom teeth in or ignore the pain they cause also experience sinus problems. Your upper wisdom teeth come in right under your sinuses, so they can affect the pressure your sinuses experience and lead to headaches or infections.

Some people never have problems with their wisdom teeth, have plenty of space for them in their mouths, and are able to keep them clean. However, this isn’t true for the majority of people. Ignoring the pain or infection that your wisdom teeth cause can have a big impact on the rest of your smile. Visit your dentist. He or she can take x-rays and determine if your wisdom teeth are fine or if they need to be removed to prevent future dental problems for your smile!

The post Don’t Ignore That Wisdom Tooth! appeared first on Your Dental Health Resource.

Fights Tooth Decay and Gum Disease

Mouthwash can actually help combat the bacteria that contribute to tooth decay and gum disease. This is most effective when used after your tooth decay or gum disease has already been diagnosed and treated. However, if you’re looking to prevent these adverse oral health problems, then mouthwash is your new best friend! It helps to prevent the buildup of plaque, reduce bad bacteria in the mouth, and can even help reduce the likelihood that you’ll get cavities. Used either before or after brushing, regular mouthwash use (but not overuse) can help you fight early symptoms of tooth decay, cavities, and gum disease.

Helps Bad Breath and Can Help Remove Stuck Food

Perhaps one of the most popular features of mouthwash is that it helps reduce bad breath and can help your mouth feel minty and fresh. It’s important to remember, however, that mouthwash doesn’t cure the underlying cause of your bad breath. Many times, problems such as tooth decay or gum disease can cause bad breath. Although mouthwash may help alleviate your symptoms, your bad breath won’t go away until the root cause of the problem is treated, so see your dentist! Mouthwash can also function as a floss for when you don’t have access to floss or don’t have time to. It can help remove unseen food particles from between your teeth and therefore help prevent cavities!

Which Kind Is Best and How to Use

What kind of mouthwash you choose to use depends on you and your unique oral needs. For instance, mouthwashes with fluoride help prevent tooth decay and cavities, so if you’re worried about your kids getting cavities, you may want to choose a mouthwash that contains fluoride. Antiseptic mouthwashes such as those with alcohol can help fight bacteria and prevent gum disease and bad breath. Even salt water rinses or homemade mouthwash can help with problems such as canker sores. It’s important to talk with your dentist about which mouthwash would be best for you. People with sensitive teeth might not do well with the harsher antiseptic mouthwashes, but might feel more comfortable with a fluoride rinse. Your dentist can help you choose!

Mouthwash is an important part of your oral care routine that shouldn’t be overlooked! By helping to prevent tooth decay, gum disease, cavities, and bad breath, the benefits of using a quality mouthwash are numerous. Remember that using mouthwash works to supplement your brushing and flossing routine—not to replace it. Talk with your dentist about which mouthwash would be a good fit for you!

The post Mouth Wash: Is It Really Necessary? appeared first on Your Dental Health Resource.

Vitamins B and C

Vitamin B deficiency can affect everything from canker sores to bad breath to a burning feeling in the mouth. Vitamin C deficiency can lead to bleeding gums and infections in the mouth. People with vitamin B deficiency may also have trouble swallowing or a sore tongue. B vitamins that are important include vitamins B2, B3, B6, and B12. To get more vitamin B in your diet, you can eat avocado, potatoes, bananas, and eggs. If you want to take a supplement, be sure to take a B supplement that includes all of these B vitamins. People with vitamin C deficiency may also have trouble fighting off infections once they happen. To get more vitamin C, focus on peppers, dark green veggies, carrots, or fruits like strawberries and kiwi.

Vitamin D, Calcium, and Magnesium

It’s commonly known that vitamin D helps with strong bones and good quality of the bones, and our teeth and jaw are made from bone! To decrease risk of fractures, tooth loss, loose teeth, and bleeding gums, make sure you’re getting enough vitamin D and calcium. Eating fatty fish, getting enough sunlight, and eating dairy can all be good sources of these vitamins. Be careful when consuming dairy though—your mouth turns the dairy into lactose, which is just another form of sugar. When this sits on your teeth, it can cause damage like cavities.

Magnesium deficiency can cause inflammation of the gums and is important to take with vitamin D and calcium for proper absorption in the body. This can be taken as a supplement as well or it can be eaten in foods such as broccoli, almonds, and kale.

Iron and Zinc

Iron deficiency can cause swollen tongue and sores in the mouth. Iron-rich foods include dark leafy greens such as spinach, also beans and pumpkin seeds. Zinc is an important mineral that can cause loss of feeling in your tongue, loss of taste, or dry mouth. Zinc is essential for both men and women as it helps both sexes stay fertile, and can have other great benefits for the body such as keeping our skin clear and our immune systems in top form. Get zinc from foods such as tomato juice, spinach, and lentils.

Knowing about your vitamin and mineral consumption is important for keeping your dental health on track. Nutrients play a vital role in our mouth just as they do in the rest of our bodies. Keep these vitamins as an important part in your diet, and when you can’t get them from foods, find a high-quality supplement to take.

The post Nutrient Deficiencies and Oral Health appeared first on Your Dental Health Resource.

If your opinion about gum disease is that it does not impact many people, then you should know that, according to the American Academy of Periodontology (AAP), estimates are that up to three out of four Americans suffer from some form of gum disease today. This disease can take form as mild cases of gingivitis, to more severe cases known as periodontitis. However, despite this data, roughly only a small portion of people seek treatment from their dental professional for their gum disease.

This is a topic which I raise and discuss regularly with my patients, as it is also important to note that gum disease may be linked to several other health conditions, including diabetes, heart disease and certain forms of cancer, so gum disease not only impacts your oral health, but should be looked at as potentially impacting your overall health.

Maintaining healthy teeth and gums is important for people of all ages, and based on my interactions with patients and on commonly asked questions, I’ve identified and addressed below some common misconceptions about gum disease.

The post 3 Myths About Gum Disease appeared first on Your Dental Health Resource.