When you think about it, your teeth serve you in some pretty amazing ways. They chew your food, help you speak clearly and more. However, the same things that help your teeth perform so many functions can also make them very sensitive to outside factors. If you aren’t careful about what you eat and drink regularly, drinking water with fluoride can have a negative impact on the enamel of your teeth. The constant exposure to acidic foods and drinks like coffee or soda can slowly eat away at your enamel as well as other layers of your tooth. This means that keeping your pearly whites healthy is a constant battle against decay, bacteria, and other elements that want to destroy them. Keeping them strong isn’t just something we do because it looks nice – it’s something we need to do in order to avoid future problems with our teeth.
What is enamel?
Enamel is the hard outer layer of your teeth that gives them that pearly white color as well as strength. While enamel may be strong, it’s also very brittle. This means that it can break and chip very easily when it comes into contact with certain elements. Enamel is naturally porous, which means that it allows for the flow of minerals into your tooth structure to strengthen it. However, it also means that enamel is prone to staining. Enamel is highly affected by pH levels, meaning that it can be softened by acids or hardened by fluoride. Enamel is also very sensitive, which means that it’s important to take extra precautions when you’re caring for your teeth.
Maintaining your pearly whites with regular care
Keeping your pearly whites clean. When it comes to keeping your teeth healthy, the first thing you need to do is make sure they are clean. You should be brushing your teeth twice a day – once when you wake up in the morning and once when you go to bed at night. It’s important to brush your teeth thoroughly to remove all of the bacteria that has built up in your mouth. You should be brushing your teeth with fluoride-containing toothpaste, which can help strengthen the enamel of your teeth. You should also be flossing your teeth to cut away at the bacteria that’s built up in between your teeth.
Brush and floss regularly
Besides keeping your teeth clean and bacteria-free, brush and floss regularly can also help to strengthen your teeth. Brush your teeth with fluoride-containing toothpaste to strengthen enamel – As mentioned in the previous section, brushing with fluoride-containing toothpaste can help to strengthen your teeth. Floss your teeth regularly to prevent buildup of bacteria – Sometimes, bacteria get trapped in between your teeth to form plaque. This bacteria can lead to cavities and periodontal disease if not removed. Use a mouthwash to wash away any impurities – While brushing and flossing are great ways to wash away impurities, they might not always be enough. That’s where mouthwash comes in.
Avoid foods and drinks that are known to be bad for your teeth
While you should definitely be taking extra precautions when it comes to what you regularly consume, the list of foods and drinks that are bad for your teeth is long. Studies have shown that foods high in sugar tend to lead to higher levels of acidity in your mouth. This acidity can result in decreased levels of minerals in your teeth, which can lead to enamel erosion. This erosion can then make your teeth more prone to decay or injury. Other foods that you should steer clear of due to their damaging effects on your teeth include:
- Caffeine – This can lead to increased levels of acidity in the mouth, which can damage the enamel of your teeth.
- Sticky or chewy foods – These can cause damage to the enamel of your teeth.
- Citrus fruits – These can lead to high levels of acidity in the mouth.
- Alcoholic beverages – Although alcohol itself doesn’t have an impact on your teeth, the drinks that you’re consuming it in most likely do.
Conclusion
Keeping your teeth strong and healthy isn’t just something that’s nice to have – it’s necessary if you want to avoid serious dental issues in the future. While brushing and flossing regularly is a great way to keep your teeth clean, maintaining a healthy immune system by monitering your nutrition is absolutely essential. You need to be careful about the foods and drinks that you regularly consume since many of them are known to be bad for your teeth. With these tips, you can keep your pearly whites strong and healthy for years to come.
