There's more to keeping you pearly whites precisely that than a
bit of brushing and the odd visit to a dentist. Take a look at
these dental dos and don'ts.
#1 Avoid Fizzy Drinks
Carbonated drinks (including the diet variety and sparkling
water) can cause your teeth to look older than they really are.
These drinks are so highly acidic that they can actually
dissolve the upper layers of the tooth. They contain high
amounts of phosphorus - a mineral that can leach calcium from
your bones if you consume too much and some scientists believe
they can weaken your jawbone, increasing the chance of losing
teeth.
Some researchers believe calcium is first robbed not from your
hips or spine but from your jaw, leading to tooth loss. We see a
number of young people who have the jaws of much older people,
because of poor dietary habits such as drinking soda, along with
not getting enough calcium.
#2 Chew your Food
Foods that work on the teeth like detergents are foods that
require chewing. Apples, celery and carrots clean teeth
naturally and foods such a spinach, lettuce and broccoli prevent
staining by creating a film on the teeth that acts like a
barrier. Major strainers will take their toll on your smile
sooner of later, so steer clear of tea, coffee, red wine, and
highly pigmented foods such as cherries and blueberries anything
in fact, that will stain a white shirt.
#3 Don't take Drugs
Ecstasy causes jaw clenching in users. A study found that 60 per
cent of ecstasy users examined had worn their teeth through the
enamel and into the underlying dentine, compared with only 11
per cent of non-users. As for cocaine rubbed on gums, it
restricts blood flow, traumatizes the tissue and inhibits
nutrition of the gums. Remember gums keep teeth in place.
#4 Quit Smoking
Smoking causes staining of the teeth and bad breath and
increases the risk of oral cancer and gum disease, as it
constricts blood flow to the gums. In fact, some gum specialists
feel it's not worth providing advanced treatment for gum disease
in smokers, as there is very little chance of improvement.
Smoking one pack a day for 10 years can cause a 10 per cent loss
of bone support. Long term studies reveal that most tooth loss
in 19 to 40 year olds is associated with smoking more than 15
cigarettes a day.
#5 Beware Bleaching
A professionally applied whitening system will not damage teeth.
But some over the counter bleaches are so acidic; they can cause
surface loss and sensitivity.
#6 Stop Biting Nails
Habitual nail chewers damage more than their cuticles; they can
damage their teeth, too. If you have weakened enamel, you end up
with an exposed, dented, soft area in the center of the tooth.
And that's when the problem occurs. The denting is much softer
than the enamel and if exposed to bad habits such as chewing
nails, opening beer bottles, it will wear down. Often the middle
part dissolves quicker than the outside and the brittle enamel
is very prone to chipping, making the teeth look uneven and
unattractive.
About the author:
Cathy Gates also writes on
Fingernail Fungus. More info:
Nail Fungus
Cure
