DIET AND DENTAL HEALTH

You know that what you eat can make a difference in the way you feel and perform. That is why you should try to choose foods that will help your body stay strong and healthy. But did you know that your choice of foods and your eating patterns also may affect your dental health?

HOW DOES DIET AFFECT DENTAL HEALTH?

If your diet is low in certain nutrients, it may be harder for the tissues of your mouth to resist infection. This may be a contributing factor to periodontal (gum) disease, the main cause of tooth loss in adults. Although poor nutrition does not actually cause periodontal disease, many researchers believe that the disease progresses faster and is more severe in patients whose diet does not supply the necessary nutrients.

To make sure that you are getting enough nutrients for good general and oral health, you should choose foods from the four basic food groups: fruits and vegetables, breads and cereals, milk and dairy products, and meat, fish and eggs. When you do snack, avoid soft, sweet, sticky foods, such as cakes, candy and dried fruits, that cling to your teeth and promote tooth decay. Instead, choose dentally healthy foods such as nuts, raw vegetables, plain yogurt, cheese, popcorn and sugarless gum or candy. To have a diet that promotes dental health, you must develop sensible eating habits.

HOW CAN I GET ENOUGH FLUORIDE?

If you and your family have a balanced diet, you will get all the nutrients you need for good dental health, with one possible exception - fluoride. Fluoride is vital for strong, decay-resistant teeth. If there is not enough fluoride in your community water supply, the level of fluoride can be adjusted to the right amount for good dental health (about one part fluoride per million parts water). If your drinking water is not fluoridated, ask your dentist how you can get the fluoride you need.
Fluoride toothpastes and mouthrinses have been proven effective in helping prevent dental decay. However, they do not contribute to your dietary fluoride.
Together, a balanced diet, daily use of fluoride, brushing and flossing, and sensible eating habits, can reduce the risk of or even prevent dental disease.

CLEAN TEETH AND GUMS

Having a clean mouth is important. In addition to being healthier, it gives you fresh breath and a nicer smile.

When you eat, bits of food, some too small for you to see, remain in your mouth. They feed bacteria that grow in a sticky film on your teeth. This film, called plaque, is the main cause of tooth decay and gum disease.

WHY BRUSH?

Brushing your teeth after meals and between-meal snacks not only gets rid of the food particles that you can see, it removes plaque from your teeth. Using a fluoride toothpaste is important because the fluoride can help kill bacteria, as well as make your teeth stronger.

Ask your dental team and your Hygienist to recommend the best toothbrush for you. Generally, a brush with soft, end-rounded or polished bristles is less likely to injure gum tissue. The size and shape of the brush should allow you to reach every tooth. Children may need smaller brushes than those designed for adults. Remember: worn-out toothbrushes can not properly clean your teeth and may injure your gums. Toothbrushes should be replaced every three or four months.

Electric brushes are very efficient ways of removing dental plaque. Ask you Hygienist which one he would recommend.

WHY FLOSS?

Flossing removes plaque and food particles from between teeth and under the gumline, areas your toothbrush can not reach. Because tooth decay and periodontal disease often start in these areas, it is important to clean them thoroughly on a daily basis.
Flossing is a skill that needs to be learned. Do not be discouraged if you find it difficult at first. With practice, you will find that flossing takes only a few minutes of your time each day.

WHAT ABOUT MOUTHRINSES AND MOUTHWASHES?

If used as directed, in addition to brushing and flossing, mouthrinses and mouthwashes can help to prevent tooth decay .

HOW OFTEN SHOULD I SEE MY DENTIST?

In the past, it has always been recommended that you see a Dentist every 6 months. However, at Merton Dental Centre we have made some fundamental changes, the traditional 6 monthly recall in the UK has no sound clinical basis. We are a Preventative Dental Centre and believe that once your dental disease has been controlled and eliminated, then the regular recall should be with our Clinic's Hygienist, at 3 or 4 monthly intervals. As far as your recalls with your Dentist are concerned, once every 12 to 18 months is enough, provided you attend for your regular Hygienist appointments. For Patients who have had a great deal of dental reconstruction carried out, such as Implants, then a recall with your Dentist every 4 to 6 months would be appropriate.