Dental Health and Your Diet

Dental Health and Your Diet

Sugar is the main cause of dental decay when there are bacteria present. More significant than the amount of sugar you eat is the frequency of consumption.

Probably the worst thing you can do to your teeth is to drink a soda and have a sip every few minutes over a long period of time; the same is true for snacking. It is recommended that if you want to have a snack or soda or juice it is better to have it after food, as dessert, or have it in one sitting. Eating or drinking something sweet over an extended period of time creates a constant supply of sugar for bacteria that causes tooth decay!

It is important to be aware of all the sources of sugar that are out there. It is not just everything that is sweet, but anything that can turn to sugar like pieces of bread. Cutting down your sugar intake is good for cavity prevention, as well as your general health.

It is important to be aware of all the sources of sugar that are out there. It is not just everything that is sweet, but anything that can turn to sugar like pieces of bread. Cutting down your sugar intake is good for cavity prevention, as well as your general health.

Is there any kind of food that prevents tooth decay? Well, not really. Some people believed that chewing foods like apples and carrots may have some plaque removal effect, but they still contain some sugar so any advantage is not clear.

Another group of food that causes significant damage to teeth structure is acidic foods. If in frequent contact with teeth, things like lime, lemon, and grapefruit can cause serious irreversible damage (erosion) to your teeth.

If you have any questions about diet and dental health and you live in or around San Jose, give us a call today!

Mint?

Bad Breath

There are a few different causes of bad breath. Ranging from stomach problems
to diets and teeth problems, most of the causes can be found in the mouth. They are:

1. Tongue (when bacteria grows in between the papilla)
2. Teeth cavities (especially when food particles get stuck in them)
3. Gum diseases
4. Extraction sites during healing
5. Dentures when not cleaned properly
6. Alcohol and tobacco

If you or someone you know is concerned about bad breath, the first step is a
dental check up. Your dentist will be able to confirm or rule out the source of
bad breath.

When the cause is found, treatment will be determined and explained by your
dentist. If the source of the bad breath is your mouth, there is little chance
that mouth washes or mints can treat the problem. They usually mask the problem
for a short period of time, and can sometimes exacerbate the situation
(mouthwashes that contain alcohol cause dry mouth and usually make the bad
breath worse).

These are a few other, non-dental reasons that cause bad breath:

1. Sore throat
2. Tonsillitis
3. Some food
4. Infection of air passages

Following a good oral hygiene routine and receiving regular dental check ups
are the best ways to prevent bad breath.
If you have any questions about treatment of bad breath and you live
in San Jose or surrounding area, give us a call today!

Elcetric Vs. Manual Toothbrushes

Electric Brush versus Manual Brushes

There have been multiple studies comparing the effectiveness of manual
brushes as opposed to electric brushes.

Although not all electric brushes are the same, these studies conclude that
in general electric brushes are more efficient in controlling plaque than manual
brushes. Theoretically, you can do a very good brushing with a regular hand
brush, but the movements of an electric brush make the task easier and more
effective.

Also, some electric brushes (Sonicare) produce sonic vibrations that
are difficult to mimic with a hand brush! Other electric brushes like Oral-B and
Rotadent have small heads that help you access hard-to-reach areas of your
mouth. This aspect is more important when you are talking about someone with
orthodontic braces or a history of gum disease.

If you have any questions about electric toothbrushes and you live in
or around San Jose, give us a call today!

How to Floss Your Teeth

The surfaces that are between teeth are not accessible to brush; therefore, the best way to clean them is by flossing. The frequency of flossing is like brushing and ideally after each meal, though one time a day (before going to bed) is the minimum necessary.

To start, cut a piece of dental floss (approximately 2 feet). Wrap both sides of the floss around your middle fingers. Using your index and thumb, glide the floss in between all your teeth one by one. When flossing, make sure you are not cutting your gums. The goal is to clean the teeth surfaces, not the gums. In the space in between teeth, press the floss against each side of the tooth (hug the tooth) and gently move it back and forth and up and down. Then move to the opposite surface of the adjacent tooth.

If you have any questions about how to floss your teeth and you live in or around San Jose, give us a call today!