Are you aware that your mouth is home to entire colonies of microorganisms that recycle what you eat and drink? Bacteria are actually living beings, which means they move, grow, reproduce and discharge their own waste matter. And, that’s how they cause tooth decay in our mouths.
We’ve been told repeatedly how brushing our teeth can help prevent cavities. Even though this is true, our body also has it’s own natural defenses against cavities? If you know how cavities form and what your body does to protect itself and defend against them, you can then use those defenses to your advantage.
It is important to keep in mind that acids present in foods and drinks can also wear away directly at enamel and form cavities. Consuming highly acidic foods and drinks every day can harm the teeth without the right aftercare. Foods like citrus fruit, which you might eat and/or drink on a regular basis, can eventually cause tooth enamel to wear away. Keeping that in mind, it is important to limit your acidic food intake; this especially applies to acidic drinks such as sports drinks, alcohol, soda, and fruit juices. After all, isn’t your healthy smile worth it?
NO! Research shows that brushing your teeth is extremely important, but also doing it for at least two minutes each session twice a day is great for your oral health and can help fight cavities. It is recommended and very important that you wait for 30 minutes after eating before brushing, because the acids in food softens enamel, and brushing in that state can actually damage your teeth. Instead, stimulate your body’s natural defenses for those first 20-30 minutes.
The body’s first natural defense against acid erosion is saliva production. Saliva is the most important biological factor affecting the progression of dental erosion. Saliva provides protection against acid erosion thereby helping fight cavities.
In fact, any time you have a question or concern regarding your oral health, feel free to contact Dr. Guerra at 561-844-6146, and his friendly dental team. We’re here to help!
2. Keep Your Dental Appointments! As many as 23.7 percent of American adults have untreated cavities, according to data from the CDC. If it’s been a while since your last dental appointment, it’s time to schedule a visit.
3. Take Supplemental Vitamin D! Vitamin D is important to help absorb calcium and phosphate from the food you eat.
