We are all very familiar with the fact that our diets can impact the health of our bodies. But have you ever stopped to consider how certain foods can influence your oral health? According to your Livonia dentist, Dr. James Stewart, the foods and drinks you consume can have a dramatic effect on your teeth. Perhaps the best-known foods that should be avoided for the health of your teeth are sugar-filled snacks. Harmful oral bacteria feed on sugar, causing them to produce an acid byproduct that can rob teeth of their enamel, and if sugary snacks are consumed with regularity, these bacteria may have a chance to do real damage to your teeth, creating cavities.
Problems with Acidic Foods
As mentioned earlier, acids can rob teeth of their enamel, thereby weakening them. Therefore, consuming a lot of acidic foods and drinks can leave your teeth weakened. Some common acidic foods and drinks include coffee, soda, and citrus fruits. Many coffee drinkers consume numerous cups of coffee every day, and the resulting enamel loss reveals the yellower layer of dentin beneath the enamel. Coffee’s acidity and the fact that it contains a dark pigment make coffee capable of discoloring teeth, yet coffee may not be as harmful as soda, which is acidic and contains high levels of sugar to feed harmful oral bacteria. Citrus fruits, on the other hand, contain numerous vitamins and nutrients. However, if you partake of them too frequently, you may just damage your teeth’s enamel, making them more vulnerable to attack from bacteria.
General Dental Care from Your Livonia Dentist
In addition to choosing the right foods and drinks, your oral health depends greatly upon thorough homecare and regular dental visits. Proper homecare can remove plaque from teeth, keeping it from hardening into tartar, a substance that cannot typically be removed with a toothbrush. However, if some tartar does form on your teeth, it can be removed by a hygienist during a dental cleaning, removing the threat from your teeth. During a cleaning, Dr. Stewart will also examine your teeth for any symptoms that may point to a variety of oral health problems, allowing for early intervention if a threat is discovered.
About James Stewart, DDS: James Stewart, DDS is an experienced and respected dentist serving patients from Livonia, Farmington Hills, Plymouth, Northville, Dearborn Heights, and Garden City. Patients can contact Dr. Stewart by calling (734) 425-4400 to schedule an appointment.