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Your diet affects more than your weight or overall health. What you eat also affects the health of your mouth. Your mouth is constantly coated by a thin biofilm of bacteria and plaque. When certain ingredients in food and beverages come into contact with this biofilm, they secrete harmful acids that attack tooth enamel. Your Corona dentist gives advice on maintaining a diet that will benefit your dental health.

Refined Sugar and Your Teeth

Refined sugars and other fermentable carbohydrates cause a reaction in plaque when they meet. The byproduct of plaque absorbing and processing these substances is lactic acid, which saps minerals from your teeth in a process called demineralization. Because your enamel is made of mineral crystals (i.e., calcium and phosphate), after acid drains the tooth’s minerals, the enamel cannot remineralize and is vulnerable to attack. As summer dawns upon us, lemonade and iced tea become the popular thirst-quenchers of the season. Aside from their sugar content, lemonade and other fruit juices also contain harmful acids. If you consume a sugary beverage, try to do so quickly in one setting, as opposed to prolonged sipping over time. Also, rinse your mouth with water after finishing your drink to flush away any food debris, bacteria, and lingering plaque.

Healthier Choices

Since acids make your enamel weak by extracting essential minerals, you can strengthen your enamel by adding those minerals. Milk facilitates enamel remineralization because of its high content of calcium and phosphate (the same minerals that constitute your enamel). Foods such as cheeses, chicken, meats, and nuts are believed to aid in remineralization as well. We recommend chewing sugarless gum to stimulate saliva, which is your body’s natural tooth aid and also contains calcium and phosphate.

Regardless of what you eat, or don’t eat, maintaining a healthy mouth requires a disciplined daily hygiene routine that includes brushing your teeth at least twice a day and flossing at least once. You should also attend a dental checkup at least once every six months to spot signs of decay or weak teeth early.

To schedule a consultation, checkup, and cleaning, call Dental Associates of Corona today at 951-273-9580.