The BEST foods and drinks for your teeth

We’ve focused on the food and drinks that are bad for your teeth, but what about the ones that support healthy teeth and gums? Here’s how eating right can help you fend off plaque, gum disease, and gingivitis and keep your gums healthy and your teeth strong!

1. Milk

Your teeth get stronger and healthier when your drink milk, just like your bones. Milk contains calcium, which helps protect your teeth against gum disease, and keeps your jawbone strong and healthy.

2. Salmon

Salmon is a great source of Vitamin D, which is critical in oral health care since it allows your body to absorb and use calcium, a nutrient that protects your teeth and gums from disease. The Vitamin D found in salmon makes it easier for your teeth and bones to get the full power of calcium from the foods you are eating.

3. Strawberries

Strawberries are full of Vitamin C which is required for production of collagen, a key protein that maintains your gum strength and integrity. Just a half a cup of strawberries delivers more than 70 percent of your daily value of Vitamin C! Also, strawberries have a mild bleaching action and can help to remove superficial stains. Be sure to rinse your mouth out after eating strawberries since they are very acidic and acids can erode tooth enamel.

4. Water

Water helps wash away food debris and keeps your saliva levels high. Saliva is your mouth’s best defense against tooth decay because it contains proteins and minerals that counteract enamel-eating acids. Saliva is made up of 95 percent water, so stay hydrated! Water is also a great substitute to sugary drinks, which can damage your teeth and promote decay.

5. Tea

Green tea contains antioxidants called catechins that reduce the body's inflammatory response to the bacteria that cause gum disease. A study found that a daily cup of green tea significantly lowered Japanese men's risk of developing gum disease. The polyphenols in black tea can also help destroy the growth of bacteria that cause bad breath.

6. Yogurt

Yogurt has probiotics, which are believed to aid in the protection of your gums. 

Why You Should Floss Regularly

The American Dental Association reported surprising statistics on how Americans view the importance of flossing. They reported that 50.5% of Americans floss daily, 31% of Americans floss less than daily, and 18.5% of Americans do not floss at all. Which category do you fall into?

The ADA recommends flossing once a day. That means 49.5% of Americans are missing out on this all-important step of dental health care and maintaining healthy teeth and gums.

If you brush your teeth twice a day as recommended but still forget to floss, you’re missing out on cleaning one-third of each of your teeth.  Every time you brush, you clean the top, inside, and outside of each tooth. However, there are areas between your teeth that your toothbrush can’t clean effectively without flossing. When you brush without flossing, you are only cleaning 65% of your teeth, leaving 35% unclean.

Bacteria can thrive along these unattended surfaces, and over time lead to the formation of plaque, tooth decay, and gum disease. Floss removes debris trapped between the teeth and removes the film of bacteria between your teeth before it has a chance to harden into plaque. Tip: Don’t forget to floss all the way to your very back teeth.

Brushing, flossing, and regular dental visits are all essential factors of proper dental care that should not be overlooked. Visit West Bloomington’s Krengel Dental for your next dental appointment. Take the time to care for your teeth, and they will thank you with a healthy smile to be proud of.

Which Toothbrush to Choose: Manual vs. Electric

Our earliest memories of both dentists and their offices usually center on the toothbrush. Whether it was your dentist telling you how important it is to brush everyday, showing you how to brush on the model teeth, or the free one you got to take home when your visit was over. And with good importance, since the toothbrush is a tool we use everyday (twice a day, hopefully!).  Brushing is what helps prevent tooth decay, cavities, and a host of other dental problems. But you can’t start without the proper brush. There are two kinds of brushes: manual and electric.

Manual: Many people choose manual toothbrushes because they are more cost-effective and more readily available. They are also easier to travel with and put less pressure and your teeth and gums. If you choose a manual toothbrush, choose one with soft, nylon bristles. A softer brush is always preferable to one with hard bristles. Also use one that is smaller than you are used to. Smaller toothbrushes are easier to manipulate around the cramped confines of your mouth, in the spaces of any missing teeth, or if you have trouble reaching the back of your mouth where your molars are.

Electric: Electric toothbrushes might not be as cost-effective, but they have a variety of features to help you brush your teeth more effectively, such as timers to let you know how long you’ve been brushing for (a recommended two-three minutes) and they rotate for you to stimulate your teeth and gums.  If you do opt for an electronic toothbrush, choose a model with rotating-oscillating bristles. They appear to be better than manual brushes or electric brushes that rotate in only one direction.

Verdict: Choose the one that feels best for you and that you will enjoy using. Every toothbrush, manual or electric, will keep your teeth clean if you know how to use them and use them often.

The Most Common Dental Problems

1. Bad Breath

Bad breath, also called halitosis, is the most common dental problem. You might not think of bad breath as a “dental” problem but 85% of people with persistent bad breath have a dental condition to blame, such as gum disease, cavities, oral cancer, dry mouth, or bacteria on the tongue. Brushing your teeth, tongue, and using mouthwash are great places to start but if you suffer from chronic bad breath, visit a dentist to rule out any other dental problems.

2. Tooth Decay

We touched on tooth decay in our last blog post. Behind the common cold, tooth decay is the second most prevalent disease in the United States. It occurs when plaque forms on our teeth and combines with the food we eat to produce acids that attack tooth enamel. Prevent tooth decay by brushing twice a day, flossing, and going to regular dental checkups.

3. Gum Disease

Gum disease, scientifically known as periodontal disease, is quite possibly one of the most serious dental problems because it is commonly linked to heart attacks and strokes. Gum disease is an infection in the gums surrounding the teeth and is one of the main causes of tooth loss among adults.

4. Oral Cancer

The Oral Cancer Foundation estimates that someone in the US dies every hour from oral cancer and that there over 300,000 new cases of oral cancer diagnosed every year, worldwide. This serious and deadly dental disease that affects the mouth, lips, or throat, is highly curable if diagnosed and treated in the early stages.

5. Mouth Sores

Mouth sores, such as canker sores, fever blisters, cold sores, and ulcers, are bothersome but they don’t usually last more than two weeks and disappear on their own. Contact your dentist for medication and treatment.

6. Tooth Sensitivity

Tooth sensitivity means experiencing tooth pain or discomfort from sweets, cold air, hot or cold drinks, or ice cream. Some people’s teeth are so sensitive that they hurt when they brush or floss. There are certain toothpastes to help control tooth sensitivity and your dentist will know what to do to help.

7. Unattractive Smile

This is not technically a “dental problem” and is definitely not as serious as the others on this list but people who are unhappy with their smile consider this a dental issue and it’s one of the major reasons why patients seek dental treatment. With today’s dental technology, a beautiful smile is within reach! Whether it’s teeth whitening, dental implants, or cosmetic dental work, your dentist can give you the smile you’ve always wanted! 

Tooth Decay: How to Prevent it and Spot it When it Occurs

If you’re reading this, you most likely have had or know someone who has had a cavity. Cavities are so common that they affect approximately 90% of the population. 

To prevent cavities, you have to start at the root of the problem (pun intended): tooth decay.

Tooth decay is the process that results in a cavity. It occurs when bacteria in your mouth makes acids that eat away at a tooth. It can cause many problems from pain to infection and even tooth loss if not treated properly.

Causes of Tooth Decay

Tooth decay is caused by a combination of bacteria and the food you eat. Bacteria are always forming on your teeth and gums through plaque. When you eat, the bacteria feed on the sugars in the food you eat and turn to acids. That’s enough to make you rethink your decision to eat candy! The acids then attack the teeth for 20 minutes or more after eating. Over time, these acids destroy your tooth enamel, resulting in tooth decay.

Symptoms of Tooth Decay

Tooth decay does not usually show any symptoms until you have a cavity, making it that much harder to diagnose yourself! When you get a cavity, the symptoms are:

·      Toothache (usually from infection)

·      Bad breathe

·      White, gray, brown, or black spots on the teeth

·      Loose fillings

·      A broken tooth or a tooth that is sensitive to pressure

How To Prevent Tooth Decay

You can easily prevent tooth decay by brushing and flossing your teeth regularly,  seeing your dentist for teeth cleaning and checkups, and avoiding foods that are high in sugar.

How To Treat It

Treatment for tooth decay depends on the severity of the case.  Come see us if you think you are displaying symptoms of tooth decay. You may need fillings or, in severe cases, a crown or root canal. In the most extreme cases, tooth removal may be necessary.