Optimal dental health requires prevention. Your dentists on the Rive-Sud believe it is important to provide you with this checklist, because we tend to forget important aspects of oral health care. In addition, understanding the causes and effects of poor dental hygiene helps you remember the right habits to adopt.
Taking Control of Your Dental Health: Prevention Is Better Than Cure
If there is one area of health where prevention is important, it is the mouth. In fact, the mouth is the part of the human body with the highest concentration of microbes and bacteria. Considered the second most common disease after the common cold, tooth decay is an infectious disease. If the enamel cannot be replaced, it is possible to prevent or slow down the deterioration of teeth.
Thanks to advances in dentistry, it is now possible to slow down the development of a cavity if it is treated at an early stage. The process can even be reversed.
Dental Care Must Begin in Early Childhood
Early teeth are just as important as adult teeth. In toddlers, dentists recommend cleaning the gums to remove the bacteria that accumulate there. The first visit should take place at the age of one.
Teeth should be brushed after breakfast and especially before bedtime. Parents should know that they should not share their utensils with their child or use their child’s utensils, because the bacteria of an adult are not the same as those of a child. Their transmission can be harmful.
Finally, you may want to consider applying fluoride varnish or dental sealant. Ask your dentist at the Centre Dentaire et d’Implantologie Boucherville for more information.
Bite Into Healthy Foods: The Importance of a Good Diet
Here are some foods that are recommended for the health of your teeth:
- Raw fruits and vegetables (hydrating, they help clean the mouth, eliminating bacteria and plaque): apple, pear, celery
- Bananas and berries
- Broccoli, spinach, kale
- Brussels sprouts, carrots, beets, peas, chicken
- Chicken, tofu, fish and seafood
- Foods with probiotics (yogurt, sauerkraut)
- Nuts
- Dark chocolate (yes, it’s allowed!)
- Whole grains
- Licorice root
- Healthy beverages (milk, green tea, which thanks to its catechins reduces the number of bacteria while acting as an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory) and unsweetened beverages that act as a rinse between brushings
- Vitamins D and K2, calcium, magnesium, phosphorus
A healthy diet will enhance your feeling of fullness, which will help you avoid snacks that are often a source of problems.
Here are some foods to eat sporadically and some practices to avoid:
- Refined and acidic sugars (sweets, alcohol, citrus juices, fruit juices, energy drinks, soft drinks)
- Sweet dried fruits (raisins, dates, apricots) that stick to the teeth
- Foods that form tartar and turn into sugar with the action of acids (bread, cookies, cereals, oatmeal, chips)
- Before bedtime: starchy foods that can stick to the teeth. The decrease in saliva production during the night makes the teeth more vulnerable
- Don’t sweeten your child’s pacifier or give them sugary drinks
Additional Tips to Improve Your Dental Health
- Rinse your child’s pacifier
- Brush with fluoride toothpaste twice a day and floss, especially before bedtime
- Change toothbrushes every three to four months
- Use a mouthwash with fluoride after brushing and flossing
- Add sugar-free gum to your diet (Xylitol)
- Oil pulling: this beneficial Indian custom involves gargling with sesame oil or coconut oil
- Aloe vera: helps reduce plaque and prevent gingivitis
- Eggshell powder: According to some sources, brushing your teeth twice a week with these products strengthens tooth enamel and contributes to gum health
- Wear protective dental appliances to prevent bruxism and whenever playing violent sports
- Gastric reflux (acidity): consult a doctor
- If it’s been a few years since your last dental consultation, it would be wise to have a complete check-up of your mouth in order to know what treatments to consider and to get advice from your dentist
Do you have a cavity? Make an appointment without delay! Entrust the care of your teeth to the team at the Centre Dentaire et d’Implantologie Boucherville. In addition to routine dental care and check-ups, we offer a full range of state-of-the-art services. Find out more today!