Posted: October 21, 2014
We all want a beautiful, healthy smile, and if you already visit your dentist regularly, then you understand the importance of routine checkups and cleanings. But did you know that seemingly minor decisions you make every day can also affect the health of your teeth? To keep your teeth in tiptop shape, please read on to learn 7 important things to avoid.
Avoid these seven things to keep your teeth in great shape.
- Citrus fruit: The acids in grapefruit, lemon, and orange juices can degrade your tooth enamel. Of these three, orange juice is the least acidic.
- Chewy candy: Candies like toffee, caramel, and gummy bears stick to your teeth and give bacteria plenty of opportunity to erode your enamel.
- Tobacco: Besides being harmful to your health in general, tobacco use stains your teeth, gives you bad breath, increases your risk of gum disease, and slows healing.
- Coffee and tea: These morning pick-me-ups might help you get out of bed, but they can also stain your teeth. In fact, coffee is as bad as tobacco when it comes to stubborn stains that resist treatment.
- Soda: Sodas offer plenty of sugar, but it’s actually the citric and phosphoric acids that wear down your tooth enamel.
- Using your teeth as a tool: Never use your teeth to open a bag or pop off a bottle cap. Go ahead and look for a bottle opener or a pair of scissors.
- Contact sports: There’s some truth to the stereotype of the hockey player with only three teeth remaining.
When you take the time to make good decisions about what you put in your mouth, your teeth and gums will thank you. To learn more about good oral health practices, please contact The Practice at Maxwell Place today to schedule an appointment. Dr. Frank DePaola serves patients in Hoboken, New Jersey.
