Diet and medical advice over the past few years have promoted various healthy habits. But while some of these things may be good for our health they can compromise our teeth.
- Fruit Juice – Juices contain sugar. Varieties made at home in a blender are a little better than commercial varieties, but in both cases, the sugar is bad for the teeth. Many juices have as much sugar as a soft drink.
Avoid drinking sugar on an empty stomach, to avoid a sugar rush. Our bodies should be digesting fibre with the juice, which is the way it occurs in natural fruit. The juice on its own is a bit strong.
Drinking with a straw reduces the impact on the teeth.
Gargling water after drinking juice will help clean the mouth and greatly reduce the harm. - Bottled Water – Water is healthy and essential. But bottled water can be so pure that it does not have fluoride.
Tap water contains fluoride, which helps reduce tooth decay. Drinking bottled water causes us to miss out on this fluoride. Dentists have noticed the general increase in decay since the start of the bottled water fad.
Gargling tap water, or mouthwash, will give our teeth some much-needed fluoride. - Sports Drinks – These are full of sugar and bad for teeth. They are as bad as a soft drink. The health benefits of sports drinks are still debatable. Perhaps drinking them once a week when actually playing sports is acceptable. But no more than this.
- Cough Lozenges – Use these if you really do have a sore throat. But remember that they are full of sugar, so will harm your teeth.
Rinse your mouth out as often as possible, and drink green tea.
Carlingford Dental Advice
Brushing straight after Meals
This was a mistake made by the previous generations and unfortunately made with the best of intentions. Our tooth enamel can be softened after eating or drinking, especially if we consumed acidic foods or soft drinks. If we brush our teeth while the enamel is still soft then we will wear away that enamel and cause damage. This will soon lead to teeth that are sensitive to temperature changes. Hot and cold things will cause pain in the teeth. Wait 30 minutes after eating before brushing your teeth. Rinse with water after eating. Chew sugar-free gum (with Xylitol) after eating.
Healthy Habits
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