Sink your teeth into dental health!


I've always said that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, and this is never more true than when it comes to your teeth.

Most dental disease is caused by bacteria. Your mouth is a veritable ecosystem, and the bacteria living there eat a meal every time you do, digesting sugars and making acid. This toxic acid burrows into the enamel of your teeth, causing cavities and infections as well as damaging nerves. It makes sense to figure out a routine that will decrease the frequency and duration of time that the bacteria are in feeding frenzy mode.

The two factors most important in preventing dental disease is decreasing the frequency of times your bacteria actively produce acid, as well as the duration of time that your mouth is in high acid mode. If you drink a coca-cola in 10 minutes, it represents one sugar load. The acid in your mouth increases for about 30 minutes or so, and this is when tooth damage is occurring.
If you sip the same coca-cola all day long, however, you have an all-day buffet for the bacteria producing that acid. Your mouth never has a chance to get down to lower acid levels. This is trouble!

If you can't brush after every meal, at least rinse your mouth with water or mouthwash. This will decrease the sugar load. Also, if you're eating something sweet, eat it all at once and let your mouth get back down to a normal acid level faster. There are smart ways to get your sugar fix, and not-so-smart ways!

Dr. Bones