How do my eating habits affect my teeth?

Beside keeping your body strong and healthy, what you eat and how you eat it also affects your dental health.

Certain foods (like potato chips) contribute to tooth decay while others (like cheese) may actually help resit it.

A well-balance diet contains nutrients necessary to ward off infection and, at the same time, nourishes your whole body.  That includes your teeth and mouth.

What can I do about sensitive teeth?

What causes tooth sensitivity?

In healthy teeth, porous tissue called dentin is protected by your gums and by your teeth's hard enamel shell.  Microscopic holes in the dentin, called tubules, connect to the nerve, triggering pain when irritated by certain foods and beverages.

Treating tooth sensitivity

Depending on the diagnosis, your dentist may recommend one or more of the following treatments to relieve the symtomps of sensitive teeth:

. A soft bristle toothbrush, or a powered brush

. A fluoride rinse or gel for sensitive teeth, prescribed by your dentist

. A desensitizing toothpaste

Do's and Don't for Dental Health

 The more often you eat .carbohydrates (sugars and starches), the more opportunities there are for acid to attack.  That's why frequent snacking can be harmful to teeth.

 . Foods that stick to teeth or stay in your mouth longer (hard candy) are worse because they give the bacteria in plaque more time to produce acids.

. It is better to eat foods containing carbohydrates with a meal so the saliva generated can help neutralize plaque acids.

. Your best defense against decay is good dental care

. Visit your dentist regularly for professional care

. Brush with a fluoride toothpaste, floos to remove plaque, and rinse every day with a fluoride mouthrinse.

Why is my teeth stain?

Stains beneath the tooth enamel are known as intrinsic stains.  This type of staining is commonly caused by:

. Aging

. Defects within the tooth

. Use of certain antibiotics during tooth development

. Smoking

. Also your diet can effect the brightness of your smile.  The following foods and beverages often cause tooth stains: tobacco products, coffee, tea, red wine, colored juices, curry, soy, cola drinks, minerals in well water

How can my smile look better?

Bleaching or Whitening

Bonding

Veneers

How do the foods I eat cause cavities?

  Tooth decay can occur when the acids in plaque attack your teeth.  Plaque is the sticky, colorless film of bacteria that forms on everyone's teeth daily.  After you eat, the bacteria in plaque produce acids that attack the tooth enamel.  After repeated acid attacks, the enamel can break down and may become decayed.  Foods with carbohydrates and starches, especially those that stick to teeth, contribute to this harmful acid production. 

Do I have to eliminate sugar from my diet?

  No, but candy and sticky, gooey foods that get caught between teeth give the bacteria in plaque more opportunities to attack tooth   enamel.  This is why it's so important to clean teeth thoroughly after snacking.