Clarmain Dental Centre - Our Tooth Truths


Tooth Truths from Clarmain Dental Center OUR SMILES TOOTH TRUTHS HEALTHY SMILES FOR HAITI	Tooth Truths Teenagers today drink twice as much pop as milk, which means they may not be getting the vitamins, minerals and protein they need. They are getting large doses of sugars and other unhealthy additives that can lead to tooth decay. The sugar in soft drinks combine with the bacteria in the mouth to produce acid that can destroy the teeth. You’re at even greater risk if you sip pop throughout the day, since that exposes your teeth to the sugars and acids for longer periods and is even more likely to result in tooth decay. Diet pop contains the same acids as regular varieties, and can erode away the enamel on your teeth as well as cause decay. How can you reduce your risk of decay? You need to cut down on the amount of pop you drink. The next time you’re thirsty, reach for milk or water, or even a thirst quenching fruit like grapes, watermelon or apples.	Tooth Truths for Tots • Frequent snacking increases the chance for cavities. • The longer the amount of time food remains in the mouth, the greater the chance of decay. • The higher the starch content in foods, the greater the chance of decay. How much toothpaste? Contrary to what you’ve seen on commercials, you don’t need to load your entire brush with toothpaste and make that nice little swirl at the end. The amount of paste or gel needed for effective cleaning is a pea-sized dab on the top half of your brush. Children under six, however, should only be given 1/2 this amount to prevent excess fluoride consumption. Be wary of “hidden sugars”, especially in so-called “light” or “health” foods. For example, even though light peanut butter has much less fat than regular, it often contains almost double the sugar. Dried fruits are another common culprit. They contain very concentrated natural sugars, and because of their stickiness, are considered to be a highly cariogenic (cavity causing) food.