By checking your food’s nutrition label, you can make healthier choices to have a radiant smile. What exactly should you look for on the nutrition label to protect and even nourish your teeth and gums?

Check for Sugar

We all know how damaging sugar can be to our teeth. Sugar can wear away tooth enamel and cause cavities and tooth sensitivity.

Typical foods that have sugar include sodas, candy, breads, and other processed foods. However, sugar can be hiding in foods such as yogurt, tomato sauce, and salad dressings. The label should tell you how many grams of sugar are in a product. Women should have no more than 25 grams a day (six teaspoons) and men should have no more than 37.5 grams a day (nine teaspoons) [1].

Eat Foods Rich in Calcium and Vitamin D

On most nutrition labels, there’s a section for percent daily values (DV). This section will tell you what percentage of nutrients you’re getting from the food.

Teeth need a diet rich in vitamins and minerals to remain strong and healthy. Looking for foods that have higher percentages of calcium and vitamin D can help you maintain a radiant smile.

Examples of these foods include wild-caught salmon, which can have 988 IU of vitamin D per ounce, wild mushrooms, and even fortified soy milk [2]. For foods high in calcium, cooked beans, almonds, and dark leafy greens top the charts. If you eat dairy, milk and hard cheeses are excellent sources of calcium and vitamin D as well.

Look for Foods with Vitamin A, C, and K2

All of these vitamins play a vital role in your dental health. Vitamin A and C help protect your smile from infection such as that which is present in gum disease. Vitamin A can also encourage healthy saliva production to buffer teeth from acids and bacteria. Vitamin C is essential for maintaining gum health.

But what about vitamin K2? Chances are you haven’t heard of this one.

Vitamin K2 is found in animal products such as liver, eggs, butter, chicken, beef, and even lamb. However, if you follow a plant-based diet, you can also get vitamin K2 from sauerkraut, yogurt, kefir, and hard cheeses. Vitamin K2 can protect against tooth decay and help teeth repel bacteria and stay strong [3].

Don’t Discount the Importance of Fats

Fats have gotten a bad reputation in the past. But the truth is that not all fats are bad. The right kinds of fats are actually essential to fight inflammation. These include oils such as olive oil and flaxseed oil. Even saturated fats—eaten in moderation, of course—aren’t as bad as experts once thought. Unrefined saturated fats such as coconut oil and butter can help reduce inflammation, unlike refined oils that promote inflammation, such as canola, soybean, and corn oil [4].

Eating Right for Your Teeth

You can help protect your teeth and promote a beautiful smile by continuing your regular oralcare habits but also by eating healthy. When you regularly check the nutrition label on the food products you buy, you empower yourself to make smart choices for your smile!

Sources:
1. http://sugarscience.ucsf.edu/the-growing-concern-of-overconsumption.html#.XD0bYc9Kgxc
2. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2698592/
3. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4566462/
4. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4382606/

The post Want a Radiant Smile? Check Out Your Food’s Nutrition Label appeared first on Your Dental Health Resource.

Cavities that result from tooth decay don’t form overnight. There are stages of cavity formation that happen before you notice pain or that gaping hole in one of your teeth. This is why visiting your dentist is so important—they’re experts at spotting tooth decay before it has a chance to become a full-blown cavity!

Here are the stages of tooth decay that will form a cavity if left untreated.

Demineralization

Your enamel relies on minerals to stay strong. This is why certain nutrients such as calcium and vitamin D can help strengthen tooth enamel while harmful foods such as those that contain sugar will weaken tooth enamel.

In fact, tooth enamel is porous, so acidic substances can weaken tooth enamel for periods of time—this is why waiting for 30 minutes to brush after a meal is important.

When demineralization of the enamel happens, this means your enamel has lost some of its nutrients, such as calcium, and is now weakened by this as well as plaque. The enamel will wear away in a process called demineralization. Tooth decay is still preventable at this stage in the process.

Demineralization will often manifest as white areas on the teeth—don’t get this confused with dental fluorosis. These white spots may actually mean a cavity is on the way!

Enamel Damage

Now that the enamel has been demineralized, it will actually start to deteriorate. At this stage in the process, healthy minerals aren’t able to restore the enamel to its original state. The decay will continue without treatment, and you may see the white spot turn into a brownish area where the enamel is being eaten away by plaque, bacteria, and harmful acids.

During this stage, your cavity will be visible on an x-ray and your dentin will also become exposed, which can result in increased sensitivity and perhaps pain. A filling can treat your cavity at this point to protect the tooth from further damage.

Soft Tissue Damage

After the decay has eaten through the enamel, it’ll begin to affect the softer tissues of the tooth, such as your dentin and pulp. Dentin is the layer underneath your enamel. If the decay moves to this level, you may begin to experience pain and sensitivity and the only treatment that’ll remedy your tooth decay is a filling.

However, if your cavity is left untreated and continues to progress, it can eventually reach the pulp of your tooth. This is where all your nerve tissue lies and is essentially the heart of the tooth. If the decay reaches the pulp, an infection can quickly ensue and can cause a severe toothache as well as kill the nerve tissue inside the tooth.

If this happens, root canal therapy will likely be needed to save the tooth. Don’t wait to seek treatment if you suspect you have a cavity!

Visiting your dentist regularly can help you prevent tooth decay and catch your cavity in the demineralization process. Cavities are painful and often irreversible without a filling, so don’t wait to have your teeth checked out by a professional dentist!

The post What Are the Stages of Tooth Decay? appeared first on Your Dental Health Resource.

This means that eating whole foods that are rich in nutrients may be able to prevent tooth decay and gum disease, combined with regular oral hygiene habits, of course! Here’s why apples and a few other key foods might help stop cavities in their tracks.

Apples

Apples are crunchy and contain lots of water, which is essential to adequate saliva production. The firmness of apples can actually help remove plaque from your teeth while you’re chewing and keep your smile healthy throughout the day. Apples are also high in vitamin C, a nutrient that’s essential for gum health.

Carrots

Carrots, like apples, are crunchy and are great plaque-fighters. Combine this with chewing and you’ve got a toothbrush snack in your hands! Baby carrots or traditional carrots are excellent snacks for your teeth. Chewing carrots can increase saliva production, which helps nourish your teeth and stops bad bacteria from eating away at your tooth enamel.

Calcium

Calcium is an essential nutrient to your smile and fortunately is found is many foods. Foods such as unsweetened yogurts, cheese, and milk can all strengthen your teeth and help protect against cavities. If you can’t eat dairy, you’re in luck—leafy greens contain calcium too! These greens include spinach, kale, broccoli, and collard greens. Enjoy!

Celery

Celery is firm and can help scrub your teeth similarly to apples and carrots, but it also packs another advantage: it’s about 95% water. This means it’s counting towards your hydration, helping your oral bacteria, and providing you with a delicious and healthy snack. Top with peanut butter, cream cheese, or almond butter for extra flavor.

Healthy Fats

A growing body of research is showing that essential fatty acids such as omega-3s may play an important role in protecting your smile from gum disease. These omega-3 fatty acids are most present in fish. You can also receive vegetable-based forms from chia seeds, flax seeds, and avocadoes. Nuts such as walnuts are also a great source!

Foods to Avoid

Dentists often recommend avoiding processed foods, and with good reason—many of them contain sugar and refined carbohydrates, which can easily stick to teeth and cause tooth decay. Foods to avoid include soda, anything sticky and sweet (think candy), chips, and even granola bars, which can have high amounts of sugar. Reading the nutrition label and being aware of how much sugar you’re consuming can help you make healthier choices for a healthier smile.

Are you ready to fight tooth decay with these healthy foods? You don’t have to let cavities take over your smile as a result of your diet. By consuming the right foods, you can have a beautiful smile for life. With the right nutrition, regular dentist visits, and some savvy oral care techniques, you can protect your smile from decay and shine on!

The post Does an Apple a Day Keep Cavities Away? appeared first on Your Dental Health Resource.

Since there are many sugar-free options available, this may seem like the safest move away from sugar. However, growing evidence points to the fact that artificial sweeteners aren’t any better for teeth—and may contribute to cavity formation.

Artificial Sweeteners Are Acidic

When sugar is introduced into the oral cavity, it works with bacteria to release acids that can weaken tooth enamel and therefore lead to cavities. With artificial sweeteners, they work a little differently. Their ingredients can be extremely acidic, which means they still increase your risk for cavities.

Researchers have found there’s virtually no difference between drinks sweetened with real sugar and drinks sweetened with artificial ones. The acidity of these sweeteners can weaken and erode tooth enamel, therefore making your teeth susceptible to decay.

May Cause Dental Erosion

Dental erosion isn’t quite the same thing as enamel erosion. While enamel erosion specifically refers to tooth enamel, dental erosion refers to your entire tooth. Research has linked artificial sweeteners to dental erosion, meaning that they’re corrosive enough to actually wear away your teeth, similarly to the effects of teeth grinding.

How does this happen? Since artificial sweeteners are so acidic, they can eat away at the tooth even when plaque isn’t necessarily present to affect the tooth enamel. This can cause improper tooth wear and painful sensitivity. There’s a growing body of evidence that artificial sweeteners are not exactly tooth friendly alternatives!

What Can You Do?

Although it’s normally fine for most people to have sugar on occasion, your best bet is to avoid added sugar—including artificial sweeteners—altogether. Research is clear that these sweeteners really aren’t any better for your teeth and may, in fact, be worse.

This means choosing water over soda, carrots over candy, and only having a sweet treat once per day, or less. Introduce more whole, healthy foods into your diet and keep simple carbohydrates such as sugar or white bread to a minimum. To help curb cravings, keep fresh fruit on hand, but remember that fruit juice can be just as damaging as soda!

You can also protect your smile by getting regular dental checkups to ensure that your tooth enamel is safe and healthy, and that you aren’t increasing your risk for cavities with your oral care routine. Your dentist can help protect your tooth enamel through regular care and cleanings.

Remember that reducing your sugar intake or swapping out real sugar for artificial alternatives doesn’t always decrease your risk for tooth decay. While you might be tempted to reach for these sweeteners, the truth is that they’re not any more helpful to your smile than sugar is. You can keep your smile strong and healthy for life by skipping the sugar—both real and fake!

The post Do Artificial Sweeteners Cause Cavities? appeared first on Your Dental Health Resource.

Does laser teeth whitening damage teeth at all? Here’s what you should know about the procedure.

Uses Low Heat Methods

When you take advantage of laser teeth whitening from brands such as Zoom, low heat methods are used to avoid damaging your teeth. The heat is needed to accelerate the whitening process but is low enough that it doesn’t damage your teeth. Heat also means the solution doesn’t stay on your teeth for longer than it needs to, therefore minimizing any side effects. Higher levels of heat can cause some patients discomfort after the procedure. Fortunately, Zoom is widely used by dentists and has been shown to be a safe, effective procedure for whitening teeth. A professional cleaning is recommended beforehand to remove surface stains and reveal your true smile. This way, your dentist will be better able to whiten your teeth completely and accurately remove stains.

Protective Measures for Your Smile

Laser teeth whitening is safe because your dentist will take protective measures for your smile before and during the procedure. Before the bleaching solution is applied, your lips, gums, and inner oral tissues are fully protected. Your dentist will do this by using rubber dams over your gum tissue and retractors for your cheeks.

Finding a dentist who’s experienced and skilled at teeth whitening can help. Proper protective measures and accurate application of the whitening solution can help perfect your smile. Keeping your teeth safe during the procedure is important to prevent any side effects from the procedure.

Side Effects

The good news is that the only side effect of Zoom laser teeth whitening is mild tooth
sensitivity, which normally resolves itself after a few days. Your dentist can talk with you about what to expect and how to treat it. Usually, de-sensitizing toothpaste can help in the first few days after the procedure.

Sensitivity does not occur in all patients. It’s important to have your smile evaluated for the laser whitening procedure before it happens. Your dentist will ensure your smile is healthy and able to tolerate the whitening beforehand. If you already have sensitive teeth, talk to your dentist about how you can get a white smile without increasing tooth sensitivity.

Zoom laser teeth whitening is the professional, safe way to whiten teeth. There’s no tooth damage done and any sensitivity that results typically goes away shortly. Your dentist will take every measure possible to protect your smile during the procedure to make your teeth a beautiful shade of white afterwards. Happy smiling!

The post Does Laser Teeth Whitening Damage Teeth? appeared first on Your Dental Health Resource.

Your Teeth Are Sensitive or Loose

Sensitive teeth are a sign that your enamel has been damaged. This means the protective layer over your teeth has worn away from teeth grinding and your teeth are now sensitive to temperature. If you notice even a bit of sensitivity where there wasn’t sensitivity before, visit your dentist to see if you could have enamel damage from bruxism. If it’s loose teeth you’re noticing, this may be a sign of damaged ligaments. As bruxism continues, the ligaments and other tissue that help hold your teeth in place in your jaw can become inflamed. When this happens, your teeth may feel loose or move when touched.

You Have a Sore Jaw

A sore jaw is another sign that bruxism is happening. This is because of the pressure your jaw is putting on your teeth. Without something to absorb that pressure, your jaw can become tight and sore. You may even begin exhibiting symptoms of temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorder, where the jaw is sore even when chewing or speaking.

Your Teeth Are Damaged

You might be able to see that your teeth are damaged, or your dentist might tell you. Damaged teeth could include worn down enamel which can lead to dental caries or discoloration. It could mean your gum tissue is inflamed and causing gum recession or bleeding. Teeth may also be cracked or chipped from your nightly grinding. Your dentist can take a closer look at your smile and be able to tell if you’re grinding your teeth. Damaged teeth will need to be repaired in order to prevent future problems.

Fortunately, teeth grinding is a treatable condition. Wearing a custom night guard for your mouth can help stop the impact of bruxism on your teeth. You’ll be able to eliminate your symptoms and protect your smile while you work on other stress relieving techniques to help stop grinding for good!

Image courtesy of jk1991 at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

The post Top Signs You May Be Grinding Your Teeth (And Not Even Know It) appeared first on Your Dental Health Resource.

Stress Can Lead to Bruxism

The TMJ and stress are closely related through the trigeminal nerve, which is affected by muscle tension. When you experience stress, your muscles tense in what’s known as our fight or flight response. When there’s no resolution to this physical response, you may grind your teeth.

Bruxism, the technical term for teeth grinding, is a common side affect of stress. People who grind their teeth often create symptoms of TMJ disorders, such as a sore jaw, tight muscles, and facial pain. This tension can often lead to headaches. Symptoms from stress and TMJ disorders overlap each other. Bruxism may also be a symptom of a problem with your TMJ, as the top and bottom parts of your jaw may not fit together correctly.

Tense Muscles Cause Headaches

Headaches are a common symptom of TMJ disorders. However, if you’re experiencing tight neck or face muscles from stress, this could be linked to your jaw pain. If you’re also experiencing joint popping or clicking, a TMJ disorder may be present. A sore jaw or painful chewing could mean your joint is inflamed and not working as it should. This can also lead to headaches, much like stress does. TMJ disorders can cause stress as well as be caused by stress.

Clenching your jaw or experiencing stress could actually cause a problem with your TMJ. Stress can aggravate TMJ symptoms, whether it’s the stress of a physical illness or the mental and emotional stress of a hard day at work. Even if you don’t have a TMJ problem, stress could lead to the onset of issues due to tension and inflammation.

How to Stop the Effects of TMJ and Stress

Stress can create a vicious cycle with your TMJ. If you have a preexisting problem with your jaw joint, stress can make it worse. Even if your jaw is healthy, it can actually cause a TMJ disorder. The key here is to properly manage stress to reduce the chances of problems with your TMJ.

Talk to your doctor about what types of relaxation techniques you can do. Exercise, meditation, and even simple activities such as talking to a friend or reading a book can help you reduce stress. If you’re grinding your teeth or have symptoms of a problem with your TMJ, talk to your dentist about how you can protect your teeth and relax the muscles.

Stress hugely impacts your health, especially your TMJ! Stress can also influence your risk of other health problems such as heart disease and high blood pressure. By properly managing your stress, you can help combat any TMJ problems you’re having. Talk to your dentist for more information!

The post Could Stress Be Causing Your TMJ? appeared first on Your Dental Health Resource.