Don't let Holiday Drinks Hurt your Teeth

The air is starting to get cooler and the sun is going down sooner in most of the United States.  This means that Fall has come and the holidays are right around the corner.  With all of the get-togethers and family and friends holidays, it is most likely that the average person will find themselves drinking more specialty and adult drinks this time of year. I know for myself that I like to enjoy those sweet coffees in the morning from Starbucks.  The pumpkin spice craze is truly here and there is no way that I am not going to partake in the seasonal drinks.  But there are some things to be aware of and some ways to keep your dental health strong during this time of year.  Even if you are partaking of a lot more sweet and acidic drinks there are ways to protect your teeth and to keep you from having to visit the dentist for an emergency trip during the Holiday season.

 

The first thing that I always like to say is be aware of what you are drinking.  If you are drinking specialty coffees every morning then just know what is in them.  The first thing to know is that they are coffee and are highly acidic.  This means that you can have some big issues with acid breaking down the enamel on your teeth.  But the bonus issue that happens this time of year is that the extra sweet and sugary add-ins from the holiday taste are filled with sugar.  So the acid is stripping your teeth and the sugar is clinging on and breaking down your enamel.  The erosion is eventually going to cause cavities if not taken care of.  If you do this a lot of times during the day or week, you are putting your teeth through a hard time and also probably causing some yellowing to happen.  Coffee stains your teeth because of the acid and dark color.  So don't think that your pumpkin spice latte won't do the same thing. 

 

One great thing to do after drinking those amazing specialty drinks and morning coffee is drink water.  It sounds strange but cleaning your mouth and rinsing it with water can help get that acid and sugar off your teeth.  Not only does it clean your mouth, but it helps you produce more saliva by staying hydrated.  Saliva is your natural cleaner and it will help your mouth naturally get rid of the harmful things on your teeth. 

 

So grab a water bottle and help your own mouth out.  I like to carry a water bottle around all day and it can be a nice classy bottle.  There are lots of mugs, stainless steel bottles, and containers that can fit into any environment.  I highly suggest getting a non-bpa bottle and drinking throughout the day in order to help keep your mouth safe. 

 

Now another way to help protect your teeth and mouth is to actually add in some brushing.  I love to keep a mini disposable brush that has toothpaste on it already and that I can use after lunch or after a quick seasonal drink.  This helps to protect my teeth by putting fluoride back on them and getting the sugar and acid off.  It also helps me personally freshen my breath and I am a big fan of it.

Protect your Teeth From the Yellow

We have all seen it happen and it is a slow process in our lives. I am talking about the slow yellowing of our teeth.  This year more than most people are focusing on their dental health.  That is because of the COVID-19 Pandemic and all of the changes it has had on our lives.  The fact is that it has fundamentally changed how we work, shop, and see each other. That is one of the reasons that people are now focusing on their teeth and how to keep them safe. My own journey has led me to try new things and creating new routines. That is why I want to go over a few things that I have done in my life to attempt to keep my teethbrighter and my smile a little more friendly.

 

What really got me into thinking about my teeth so much was the change in my work life. It is now a natural part of my day to simply go from zoom call to zoom call. That is why I have been worried about my looks and the fact that people are talking about my smile.  It is because I have yellow teeth and it shows online. Now instead of going to a meeting in person, I am being highlighted and my face it taking up an entire screen.  This has simply highlighted my poor dental health and my teeth are now a focal point that I am not happy with. So the first thing I went to work on was my own routine.

 

With the change in my work routine, I found that I had more time in my day.  That is because I am not traveling to my job anymore.  Instead, now I am working from home and have more time in the morning and at lunch.  What this allowed me to do more with my dental hygiene routine each day.  Normally I will be honest I only brush my teeth once a day.  That is normally in the morning, but I knew that I needed to do more.  This year has been a lightning rod that hit me in the teeth letting me know I need more and that is what I am working on doing.  So now I have changed from one brushing to three.

I have been able to add in the extra two brushings on my lunch break and right after dinner.  I thought it would be really hard to do at first, but I decided to make a true habit out of my brushing.  This meant that I would need thirty days of the same thing to make my body used to doing it.

 

I decided to add in alarms to help my situation.  Luckily it is 2020  and I have a smartphone.  I simply, put on an alarm for lunch and after dinner each day.  I decided to be intentional about brushing and I have followed through really well.  My teeth are now protected and getting whiter due to the whitening toothpaste.  It has taken a few months, but I have noticed a great increase in the brightness of my teeth. That has been a huge win to my work life and personal emotional health as well.  I am sure my dentist is happy about my tooth health too.  Hope this tip helps you in your work zoom calls too.

Eating the right foods can improve your dental care

We all know that every year we make resolutions.  This year make 2021 the true new year, new you, and work on your dental health.  That is a phrase we hear a lot and it usually comes around the beginning of January where millions of people make new year's resolutions but it doesn't have to.  You can make that resolution right now.  There is usually a plan to work out more and healthier as well.  From a dental hygiene perspective that is actually a pretty good idea. In general the more healthy food you eat the better it can be for your teeth.  Staying away from foods and drinks that are loaded with corn syrup and excess sugar can be a wonderful boost to your mouth. So what are some foods and beverages you should avoid in order to be more healthy?  Well, let's go over a few to help. 

We all know that there are simply foods to avoid and eat very little of.  It is rather obvious to most that one food you should attempt to avoid even if it's a cheat day is a specific type of candy.  Yes, we all know candy is not good for your teeth, but if you can give up sour candies you will be doing your mouth a favor. In general sour candy is chewy, which means it is more likely to stick to your teeth.  That hurts your mouth instantly.  This and adding the fact that it has several different types of acids mixed in with the sugar can wreak havoc on your dental hygiene.  So if you can avoid eating sour candies you will have a better chance of not getting cavities. Another food to avoid and that fits lots of diets is avoiding eating carbs. 

We all know that our favorite carb is bread and it is considered a carb to stay away from and finds itself on the do not eat list for lots of diets.  Carbs are always going to be an issue that we need to eat less of.  Bread is usually chewy and filled with starch. Starch turns directly into sugar and since bread is chewy it can easily stay on your teeth longer than many other foods.  It is more likely to stick in between your teeth and that is a sure-fire way to cause cavities.  Those cavities can be extremely painful and expensive to get filled.  So skipping the bread aisle on your new diet might be a better idea than just for losing weight but can help your teeth. 

Cutting back on drinking is a good call for your mouth as well.  It may be obvious but for some, they don’t know that alcohol is actually not only a no-no on many diets but also a hindrance to your dental health. The main reason why is that it dries out your mouth. This leads to less saliva in your mouth which actually cleans your teeth. Saliva washes food particles out of your mouth and prevents food from sticking to your teeth. It also is a way your mouth heals itself.  It can help early stages of gum disease and tooth decay.  So by eliminating alcohol you can be doing your mouth a big favor in the long run.  Try and drink a little less this year and your mask breath may be better too!

Tonsil Stones And Resulting Bad Breath

You might have heard about tonsil stones before. A few signs that tell about the existence of tonsil stones may include bad breath, a whitish mark at the back of the throat, and irritation. The question is, should you be worried about these stones and the symptoms they cause? If you analyze a group of people, you will find only a few of them having tonsil stones. Many people who have these stones aren’t quite bothered.

Here is what you may want to know about tonsil stones if you are concerned about their existence.

Reason for tonsil stones

Tonsils are the two glands that are present at the back of the throat. These glands filter viruses, bacteria, and other foreign elements to keep them from proceeding beyond the back of the throat. According to the American Academy of Otolaryngology, these glands are the body’s first line of defense.

Tonsils have a coating of mucous, which is the same lining that covers most of the surfaces inside the mouth. This lining contains various pits and crypts. The number of crypts in the mucous covering tonsils varies from person to person. The job of these pits and crypts is to trap debris, bits of foods, and bacteria to keep them from entering your gut. The stuck debris can calcify to turn into a tonsil stone. The most noticeable symptom of tonsil stones is the frequent inflammation or irritation in the tonsils area.

Do these stones cause bad breath?

Most of the people with tonsil stones do not have any problems related to them. According to a 2013 study published by the Journal of Clinical and Diagnostic Research, tonsil stones are not much common, and they are generally very small when they occur. People who have these stones do not face any painful symptoms. Bad breath, however, may be connected to these stones.

Tonsil stones can cause halitosis, which is a chronic bad breath problem. According to the review published in 2014 in the Otolaryngology Head And Neck Surgery, the tonsil stone-related bad breath makes up to 3% of the total bad breath cases. This review also emphasized the need for more research in order to figure out the role of tonsil stones in causing bad breath.

Other problems that might occur with tonsil stones

The problems that occur as a result of the existence of tonsil stones may include inflammation, trouble swallowing, and bad breath. The good news is that tonsil stones rarely cause an issue. And what’s even better is that you can prevent these problems quite easily.

The best way to prevent problems resulting from tonsil stones is to make sure that you are on top of your oral hygiene. Brushing your teeth and rinsing your mouth prevents bits of foods, debris, and bacteria from reaching the back of your throat, which means that your tonsils will not have to deal with a lot of particles.

If you have tonsil stones, you may want to speak to your doctor or surgeon. They may consider the surgical removal of your tonsils if the issue of stones is severe.

The Diet that is Healthy for Your Oral Health and Prevents Tooth Decay

We all know that sticky, sugary, and soda foods are bad for our oral health. They can damage the gums, healthy bacterial, and teeth in a person. However, we usually do not allow our children to eat too many sweets and chocolates. It is very customary among all of us to restrain kids from eating sugary products. It can lead to severe damage and tooth decay. The syrups and sticky items do not leave your mouth easily, they accumulate on the enamel and release the harmful Bactria, and disturbs the flow of saliva. However, teenagers and infants cannot look after their oral health and hygiene properly; thus, we do not let them eat such food items.

However, apart from the harmful food items, some eatables are useful for healthy gums and teeth. They can restore the outer layer of a tooth, called enamel, and make them strong. Therefore, everyone should know about these eatables and increase the intake quantity. However, one of the primary note is chewing speed and time. Many people eat healthily but do not grind it well; thus, they cannot improve their overall oral health and end up with several gums and teeth infections. Therefore, do follow preventions and chew your morsel at slow speed and properly. Here are some foods that can prevent tooth decay and help you to improve oral health.

1.      Crunchy Vegetables and Fruits

You might have heard that an apple can cure thousands of diseases, “an apple a day keeps a doctor away”. Thus, this is one of the best fruit or food item that can remove the plaque and harmful bacterial away from the mouth. Moreover, when eating an apple from teeth, you do not cut it into slices, then your teeth become strong and active. Moreover, the bite removes the bacterial layer from the teeth. Apple is high in fiber and helps to maintain the appropriate flow of saliva. Moreover, the carrot is another source of fiber and rich in antioxidants. It can fight against the stubborn bacteria and plaque on your teeth. Some other crunchy vegetables that might help your oral health are celery, broccoli, bell pepper, sprouts, radish, peas, beans, lettuce, and jicama.

2.      Cheese and Dairy Products

Oaky, there is a rumor about the cheese that it is harmful to kids and overall health. Well, this is not true. There is some kind of cheese that is not suitable for the people who are obese or under any treatment for diabetes or heart disease. But, some of the cheese is best for the health and teeth. It can remove the harmful effects of bacteria present in your mouth and it also makes the teeth strong. Many other dairy products have calcium and vitamin D that are necessary for healthy gums and teeth. Therefore, every child and adult should eat butter, ghee, cheese, milk, and other eatables made up of milk.

3.      Seafood

Seafood is one of the significant sources of protein, vitamins, and calcium that are necessary for strong and healthy teeth. Thus, people of all ages should eat fish, lobster, shellfish, salmon, and prawns. These are some hidden sources of a healthy mouth. Oral health does not need only brushing, flossing, use of mouthwash, and fluoride toothpaste, you need to pay attention to the diet as well. Healthy nutrition is a solution to thousands of diseases and makes you robust.

4.      Dry Fruits

Nuts and dry fruits are other sources of vitamins and other healthy ingredients that are helpful for a healthy oral life. Some people have an allergy; thus, they cannot eat nuts. Such people can avoid eating dry fruits. But kids should eat almonds, pistachio, walnuts, and cashew nuts. These are high in calcium, protein, and phosphorus.