Having the smile of your dreams can be a game changer in your confidence and happiness, and for many people, a dream smile is a whiter, brighter smile. Taking care of your enamel is one way to ensure that your teeth stay healthy and white! Here are a few ways you can easily take care of your enamel:
Limit sugary drinks and food, and the time over which you consume them.
Fermentable carbohydrates, found in items like cookies, candy, soda and more, combine with bacteria in your mouth to create harmful acids that break down your tooth enamel. These acids can attach to your teeth and even remain there after you’ve eaten. When you do consume a sweet treat, do so reasonably quickly—if you sip a soda for hours every afternoon, you’re hitting your teeth with sugar and acid for an extended period of time. Your mouth naturally works to restore balance and strengthen your enamel, but it can’t keep up if you are always fighting against it! Enjoy your beverage or treat relatively quickly, and then sip some water.
Monitor your intake of acidic foods.
Acidic foods, much like sugary foods, can break down your tooth. Avoiding acidic foods entirely is nearly impossible, but it is definitely smart to be aware of the foods you are eating and how they affect the health and durability of your tooth enamel. The water and time-limiting recommendations apply to acidic foods just like sugary foods.
Drink plenty of water.
Water is your best friend when it comes to washing away unwanted, lingering bacteria in your mouth. It gets rid of those acids that build up and break down your enamel. It’s a smart move to make a habit out of rinsing your mouth out with water after meals to get all of those little pieces of food out of your teeth and avoid letting acids build up. Plain water is generally the best beverage for your teeth! Even soda waters have acidic properties that can cause your enamel to break down more quickly.
Maintain a healthy brushing schedule.
Brushing your teeth regularly and properly is the easiest way to maintain healthy teeth. If you brush too forcefully or with too hard of bristles, your enamel can easily be broken down or abraded. It is important to brush at least twice a day with a soft bristle toothbrush. To be thorough, it is important to brush your teeth for at least two minutes. It is also important to brush all areas of your mouth, including your tongue, in order to remove lingering bacteria. We’re happy to recommend the best toothpaste, toothbrush and mouth rinse for your individual needs.
Use Xylitol products.
Xylitol is a natural sweetener with many health benefits. As mentioned above, frequent consumption of sugar is dentally harmful, promoting an acidic, pathogenic sticky biofilm. Xylitol helps to modify the biofilm to a more harmless solution by reducing the amount of plaque and the numbers of bacteria in plaque. No other sugar substitute has been shown to function this way. Xylitol is safe for all age groups! We recommend to use xylitol products–such as toothpaste, oral rinses, chewing gum and lollipops–throughout the day for the greatest dental benefits.