Eat your way to a healthy smile

When most people think of keeping their teeth healthy, they think of brushing and flossing. After all, isn't that what dentists recommend the most? Well, if you don't want to end up looking like Austin Powers, there are several additional things you can do to keep cavities away, avoid bad breath, and maintain that bright smile.

Diet and nutrition are extremely important to oral health. Bacteria in the mouth feed on sugar and starch from food and produce an acid that causes cavities. The longer food remains in the mouth and the higher its sugar and starch content, the greater the chance for tooth decay.

Sugar can be found in many processed foods and is added to many condiments, sauces, and salad dressings. If you chew gum or drink soda, choose sugar-free brands. Juice also has sugar, and sipping on it all day may harm your teeth.

Dry and sticky foods adhere to teeth and are not easily washed away by saliva or beverages. For example, although raisins or crackers are better for you than chocolate, they may cause more tooth decay due to their stickiness.

Foods that are eaten as part of a meal cause less harm to teeth: you produce more saliva during meals, which helps wash away foods and reduce acid in the mouth. Limit the number of snacks that you eat. If you do snack, choose nutritious foods, such as cheese, raw vegetables, plain yogurt, or a piece of fruit. Cheese and other dairy products may help prevent cavities by neutralizing the acids in the mouth.

There are many possible causes of stained teeth. Your teeth constantly develop plaque, a sticky bacteria-filled film. Plaque can harden into tartar, a crusty deposit that forms bonds with stain-causing compounds. You can help reduce the formation of tartar by brushing with tartar-control toothpaste and having your teeth cleaned by your dentist regularly. Try to avoid or limit beverages including coffee, tea, red wine, heavily dyed foods like fruit drinks, and dark colored soda. Foods such as chocolate, berries, and beets can also cause stains. Finally, smoking, chewing tobacco, and swimming [due to chemical additives in the water] can also produce considerable staining.

The foods you eat can also affect the way people think of you by causing bad breath. Pungent foods, such as onions and garlic, contribute to unpleasant breath. Dieters may develop bad breath from infrequent eating, or high protein/low carbohydrate diets, where you exhale ketones [produced from the breakdown of fat].

If you allow bits of food to remain in the mouth by not brushing often enough, this food will collect bacteria and cause foul-smelling breath. Brush your teeth and tongue at least twice a day to remove food and plaque. Use floss to remove food from between teeth. Mouthwashes usually only offer a temporary fix for bad breath.

Gum disease is caused by bacteria in plaque becoming severe enough to irritate the gums. A major sign of gum disease is persistent bad breath or a bad taste in the mouth. If you experience these problems, record the foods you eat and the medications you take, and let your dentist know at your next appointment.

Use of any tobacco product, whether smoked or chewed, can increase your risk of developing oral cancer and gum disease. Tobacco damages your oral structures by loosening the attachments between bone, tissue, and teeth, causing receding gums. Smoking can also contribute to bad breath, stains on your teeth and tongue, and tartar formation. Additionally, tobacco products dull your sense of taste.

Bulimia nervosa is an eating disorder that is extremely harmful to the teeth, leading to thinning and chipping of tooth enamel. This damage results from excessive vomiting, which causes the highly acidic stomach content to wear away tooth enamel. This happens most frequently to the incisor teeth, so those with bulimia may have shorter than normal incisors. A bulimic's teeth may also change color from white to brown or gray. A dentist can help someone with bulimia minimize oral complications until the underlying condition is treated.

Replace your toothbrush regularly. Recycline, a local Teele Square business, combines convenience with dental and environmental health. Join their subscription program for $17.50 online at www.recycline.com, and every 3 months the company will mail you a new brush. [It's always nice to get a package too.]

Preventing tooth decay and gum disease involves five simple steps: 1) Brush your teeth, gums, and tongue at least twice a day; 2) Clean between your teeth daily with floss; 3) Eat a well-balanced diet and reduce or eliminate sugary snacks; 4) Avoid hazardous activities such as using tobacco and vomiting; and 5) See your dentist every six months for dental cleanings and examinations.