Eat and Smile Strong: 5 foods (and wine!) for healthy teeth

When it comes to your oral health, you’ve probably received a lot of information about what not to eat and drink in order to maintain a healthy, bright white smile. Sugary treats, sticky sweets, and foods that are hard and crunchy can all cause decay or chip and break your pearly whites.

Well, we’ve got good news for you! There are still plenty of foods that will please your palate while helping you build stronger, healthier teeth. So instead of focusing on the can’ts and shouldn’ts, take a moment to find out what you can and should be feasting on…in an effort to keep your teeth healthy, of course.

Wine and Cheese

Break out the wine and cheese, because this is news worth celebrating! New studies have found that the calcium in dairy products lowers the pH levels in your mouth, helping to fight plaque, prevent cavities, and protect enamel. Eating dairy also increases your production of saliva, which is great for keeping your teeth clean! Pair it with some wine to knock out tooth decay and cavities with a good old-fashioned one-two punch.

That’s right, researchers are saying that wine fights cavities too! The antioxidants present in the grape seed extract reduce cavities by improving overall oral health. And wine’s ability to stay on teeth (substantivity) gives the antioxidants time to work their magic and fight harmful bacteria.

Fiber-Rich Fruits and Veggies

Fiber-rich fruits and veggies are like cleansers for your mouth. Crisp fruits and vegetables like apples and carrots actually help clean plaque from teeth and freshen breath. These tooth-decay-fighting foods are also saliva producers. Saliva, which washes away food and neutralizes acid, is your best natural defense against cavities.

Fresh Fish

Eat in style! Salmon and Atlantic mackerel dishes are not only delicious, they are packed with vitamin D, which is key for maintaining excellent oral health. It allows your body to absorb calcium, which strengthens and protects your bones and teeth.

Kiwi and Strawberries 

These fruits are like nature’s candy: colorful, sweet, and packed with vitamin C. The kiwi has so much vitamin C that eating just one supplies more than 100 percent of the recommended daily amount. Vitamin C is critical to the health of your gum and oral tissue. When you don’t get enough, these vulnerable tissues begin to break down, causing them to bleed and ache, and leaving them vulnerable to decay.

Want to find out more about how nutrition affects your oral health? Call (785) 370-0940 today and set up your next appointment.

Why Men Are at Greater Risk of Oral Health Problems

As the new hottest trend “Dad Bod” suggests, recent surveys and studies show that men are less likely to take care of their physical health than women. This holds true for their oral health. In fact, one of the greatest risk factors for infrequent trips to the dentist is simply being male.

With Father’s Day right around the corner and Men’s Health Week upon us, now is a good time to make sure all the special men in our lives take care of their oral health, and to talk about how we can support them so they can fully enjoy optimal whole health and a lifetime of smiles.

What the Statistics Say

• Men have an increased risk of developing oral and throat cancer
• Men are at greater risk of developing periodontal disease than women
• One-third of men have not had a dental checkup in the past year
• On average, a man will lose 5.4 teeth by the age of 72
• A man who smokes is likely to lose up to 12 teeth by age 72

Why They Are Important

Everyone knows cancer is a serious subject, but what many do not know is that dentists play a key role in the early detection of oral cancer. Every time you go into the dentist for a routine checkup, they screen for oral, head, and neck cancers. When caught early, you have a good chance for a full recovery.

Similarly, regular visits to the dentist can prevent the development of periodontal disease and the loss of teeth, both of which are linked to cardiovascular disease, putting people at risk of heart attacks and stroke. Men are already more likely to suffer from heart attacks, so good oral hygiene and routine trips to the dentist are extra important, especially as men age.

Changing the Numbers

So how do we help our husbands, fathers, brothers, and friends fight the statistics? First make sure they know and regularly practice the best oral hygiene basics:

• Brush twice daily
• Floss every day
• Attend two routine dental exams with cleanings annually
• Use a toothpaste with fluoride and a rinse regularly
• A healthy diet makes a difference in oral health and whole health

Remind your loved one that seeing a dentist regularly promotes prevention and could save his life! And for Father’s Day, skip the tie. Pick Dad up an electric toothbrush or flosser. You might even consider surprising him with a tooth-whitening treatment, because when he looks better, he feels better — and every dad deserves that.

Find out more about how we support men’s whole health through regular dental care and treatments. Call (785) 370-0940 today!

Pregnancy and Your Oral Health

There’s a bit of folk wisdom that calcium is lost from the teeth of pregnant women during pregnancy. Thankfully, this myth is just that — a myth. It is a useful warning to expectant mothers, however, that they may experience some changes in their oral health because of their pregnancy and the accompanying surge of hormones. In particular, gum tissues may respond differently to plaque, and women with gingivitis are likely to see their condition worsen during pregnancy.

Increases in the hormones estrogen and progesterone can lead to what’s known as “pregnancy gingivitis,” which begins to surface as early as the second month. In some ways, this is a blessing because it brings to the forefront the existing plaque stuck between the teeth, and it acts as a warning that worse hygiene problems, like periodontal disease, are on the horizon. Periodontal disease is the result of poor brushing and flossing habits, and it can cause tooth loss if hygiene is not improved or if it’s left untreated.

Pregnant women are also at risk for developing inflammatory, noncancerous tumors caused when swollen gums become irritated. The tumors are usually left untreated because they resolve on their own after the child’s birth, but if it interferes with a woman’s ability to eat or care for her teeth, the dentist may elect to remove it. Research suggests that good oral hygiene is also good for your baby; an association exists between preterm, low-birth-weight babies and mothers with gingivitis. Excessive bacteria from the gums can enter the bloodstream, negatively affecting the body’s labor reflexes.

Practicing good oral hygiene can help prevent any complications during pregnancy. Teeth cleanings and checkups every six months are important for keeping up with oral health. Regular brushing and flossing, along with use of a mouthwash, can help control plaque and gingivitis — two huge factors in keeping the gums free from irritation and preventing pregnancy tumors.

Consult your dentist and your physician about the safety of any non-emergency oral procedures that you’d scheduled prior to your pregnancy. The best time for a pregnant woman to receive a dental treatment procedure is between the fourth and sixth months, and x-rays should typically only be taken during pregnancy when needed for an emergency. Your dentist or physician may recommend postponing elective procedures until after your baby is born.