8 Foods To Eat For A Better Smile

8 Foods To Eat For A Better Smile

Foods For A Better SmileMarch is National Nutrition Month, a time when we raise awareness of the importance of making healthy diet and exercise choices. While most of us understand that choosing good food has an effect on our overall health, we find that a lot of our patients forget to take their teeth into account.

In observance of National Nutrition Month, the Dentistry of Nashville team is here to offer a list of the 8 best foods to eat to keep your teeth healthy.

1. Tea

Black and green teas are full of polyphenols, compounds that slow the growth of bacterias that cause cavities and gum disease. Researchers from the University of Chicago found that people who rinsed their mouths with black tea for 1 minute 10 times per day had less plaque buildup on their teeth as opposed to those who rinsed with water. Even more, the size and stickiness of their plaque was reduced as well.

Not only does tea prevent bacteria from clumping together with other bacteria, it can also keep bad breath at bay. Those polyphenols suppress the genes of bacteria that stimulate the production of smelly compounds in the mouth.

2. Cheese

Recent studies found that teenagers aged 12-15 who ate cheddar cheese had lower levels of acid in their mouths than those who ate yogurt or milk. This signifies that cheese can neutralize acidic compounds around the teeth, compounds that can cause cavities and gum disease.

Cheese also stimulates saliva production, which washes away bacteria and debris.

3. Raisins

Natural raisins are sweet without the addition of sucrose, better known as table sugar.  The bacteria in your mouth feed on sugar and produce an acid waste, which is the primary cause of cavities. Raisins are a source of phytochemicals as well, which kill cavity-causing plaque and bacteria.

4. Crunchy Fruits And Vegetables

You’ve probably been hearing about the health benefits of fruits and vegetables since you were young, so it should come as no surprise that they also help your teeth.

Crisp produce such as apples, celery and carrots act like natural toothbrushes. When you chew on them, their fibers scrub against your enamel and help remove plaque and other harmful bacteria.

5. Vitamin-rich Foods

Foods containing calcium—such as cheese, almonds and leafy greens—and foods high in phosphorous—like meat, eggs and fish—can help keep tooth enamel strong and healthy. Foods and drinks with high acid levels can cause tiny, damaging lesions on tooth enamel. Calcium and phosphate help redeposit minerals back into those lesions, repairing damaged enamel as you eat.

Calcium also strengthens bones, including those in your jaw. This helps prevent tooth loss and jawbone deterioration.

6. Sugarless Gum

Chewing sugar-free gum after meals and snacks can help rinse off and neutralize the acids released by the bacteria in plaque, which are harmful to tooth enamel. Both the act of chewing and the flavor of the artificial sweeteners in the gum stimulate 10 times the normal rate of saliva flow. Not only does saliva neutralize the acids in your mouth, it also washes away food particles, helping keep your teeth clean.

In addition, sugar-free gum sweetened with xylitol has the added benefit of inhibiting the growth of streptococcus mutans, one of the oral bacteria that cause cavities. In the presence of xylitol, the bacteria lose the ability to adhere to the tooth, halting the cavity formation process. With xylitol use over a period of time, the types of bacteria in the mouth change and fewer decay-causing bacteria survive on tooth surfaces.

7. Milk

The sugar present in milk is lactose, which is the least damaging type of sugar for your teeth. This gives milk a sweet and tasty quality while not being harmful to teeth. In fact, the calcium in milk strengthens and revitalizes enamel that has been damaged by acidic foods.

Additionally, studies have shown that when cavity-causing foods are eaten along with milk, like a sugary chocolate chip cookie, the milk can help protect the teeth from damage. If you’re lactose intolerant or don’t drink milk, ask your dentist about other calcium-rich foods and toothpastes that can remineralize your teeth.

8. Cranberries

The enzymes in cranberries pack a powerful punch. Along with stopping the bacteria before they start to feed on sugars in your mouth, they may also disrupt the production of glucan, one of the main components of plaque.

While helping you fight plaque formation, a single glass of 100% cranberry juice can also:

  • Lower cholesterol
  • Treat colds and sore throats
  • Boost eyesight
  • Lower blood pressure
  • Fight free-radicals

Learn More About The Best Foods To Keep Your Teeth Healthy

The Dentistry of Nashville team is dedicated to enhancing the smiles of each and every patient that comes through our doors. But visiting your dentist every 6 months is only half the battle toward a healthy smile. Ensuring that you eat properly and establish a good dental health routine is essential in attaining bright, healthy teeth.

If you want to learn more about the best cavity-fighting foods, contact our office to make an appointment today.

The post 8 Foods To Eat For A Better Smile appeared first on Drs. Elam, Vaughan and Fleming.



Proper Oral Hygiene: Flossing Vs. Water Flosser

Proper Oral Hygiene: Flossing Vs. Water Flosser

flossIt’s no secret that proper oral hygiene is absolutely critical to a healthy smile. The tools of the trade— floss and a toothbrush — help to remove harmful, cavity-causing bacteria. While these tools are non-negotiable aspects of good oral hygiene, there are plenty of types of toothbrushes and interdental cleaners to choose from.

When it comes to cleaning between your teeth, many patients want to know if they should use traditional floss or a water flosser. The truth is, the best choice will depend on many personal factors like the current state of your oral health and your own preferences. To explain more about the pros and cons of both options, the dental professionals at  Dentistry of Nashville give a brief overview of traditional floss and water flossers.

Why Is Interdental Cleaning Important?

According to a study from the American Academy of Periodontology, more than one-third of Americans would rather do an unpleasant activity like clean the toilet, sit in gridlock traffic or wash a sink full of dirty dishes than floss. Despite this common attitude toward flossing, it is still crucial for removing plaque in hard-to-reach areas.

Simply brushing your teeth is only half of the work. Food particles and plaque tend to get stuck and accumulate between the teeth. This is also an area where cavities will typically develop if patients don’t floss. Other important reasons to make interdental cleaning a priority include:

  • Avoiding plaque hardening into tartar
  • Enjoying a whiter smile
  • Avoiding bad breath
  • Avoiding gum disease

The Pros And Cons Of Using Floss

Flossing is one of the oldest forms of oral care and dates all the way back to prehistoric times. Although flossing has been around for a long time, it wasn’t formally patented until the mid-1800s by Asahel M. Schurtleff. The design of the pack of floss included a cutter, which is very similar to the way floss packs are sold today.

There are a variety of options to choose from for traditional floss as well. Some of your options include dental pics with pre-cut floss strings or strands of floss you cut yourself. There are also different flavors along with waxed or unwaxed floss.

Some of the pros of using traditional floss include:

  • Affordability
  • Easy to store and transport
  • Easy to control

Some of the downsides to traditional floss include:

  • More time consuming
  • Less thorough

The Pros And Cons Of Using A Water Flosser

For some patients, traditional string floss may not be the best option. This is especially important for patients who are dealing with periodontal disease. When patients develop periodontal disease, the gum tissue will pull away from the teeth to create deep pockets that are hard to reach with traditional floss. Food particles and plaque can easily get trapped, thus worsening the state of their periodontal health. A water flosser can be more effective for these patients than traditional string floss.

A study conducted by the University of Amsterdam Academic Center for Dentistry found that a water flosser was twice as effective as string floss for reducing gingival bleeding. Researchers used 104 subjects over a 30-day period and found significant improvements in gingival bleeding.

Some of the notable benefits of using a water flosser include:

  • Gentler on gums
  • Less time consuming than string floss
  • Easier to handle
  • Optimal for patients with braces, dental implants or severe periodontal pockets

Some of the cons of water flossers include:

  • More expensive than string floss
  • Less travel-friendly than traditional floss

When Should I Opt For A Water Flosser?

If financially feasible, a water flosser is an ideal option for certain patients. For patients completing orthodontic treatment, a water flosser makes it much easier to remove plaque when metal wires and brackets are in the way. According to a study conducted by BioSci Research Canada, a water flosser is 3 times as effective as string floss for orthodontic patients.

For patients with dental implants, periodontal care should especially be a priority to preserve the longevity of their restorations. A water flosser is also an optimal option because it’s more effective at reducing gingival bleeding for these dental implant patients. A study from Tufts University, School of Dental Medicine found a reduction in the incidence of bleeding on probing with patients who used a water flosser.

Contact Dentistry Of Nashville

Whether you choose to use string floss or a water flosser, it’s important to remove plaque in these hard-to-reach areas each day. If you have any other questions regarding your dental health or oral hygiene, don’t hesitate to contact our office at (615) 383-3690.

The post Proper Oral Hygiene: Flossing Vs. Water Flosser appeared first on Drs. Elam, Vaughan and Fleming.



By: Sheila

By: Sheila

Any suggestions for dental implants in Vallarta , Mexico ?? Travelling there in a week and would like to have 6 teeth removed from lower jaw and have implants installed for dentures to attach to .



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