If you’ve found yourself with a cavity, don’t panic. Our East Grand Rapids, MI, dentist can place a tooth-colored filling and restore your smile back to how it was before the onset of decay. However, there are ways to also prevent cavities (and subsequent fillings) in the first place.
Here’s how you can avoid your next cavity.
What is a Cavity?
A cavity is a hole in a tooth caused by erosion and decay. Unfortunately, avoiding cavities isn’t always possible. There is no guaranteed way to , however, there are a number of ways to protect against them and lessen your chances of developing one.
Some foods help create cavities while others work to protect your teeth against them. It’s also important to have the proper oral hygiene habits to maintain your oral health.
Foods to Limit
Some of the biggest cavity causing culprits are sugary and acidic foods. These include but are not limited to:
- Alcohol & soft drinks
- Acidic or dried fruits
- Starchy Foods
- Chewy sour candy
Alcohol & Soft Drinks
Some may think that alcohol can be good for your teeth because it kills bacteria in your mouth. However, your mouth actually has a lot of good bacteria that alcohol kills too. Another disadvantage to consistent alcohol consumption is it cuts down your saliva production which is one of your mouth’s natural defenses.
Generally, soft drinks have a high sugar and acid content. You can counteract its adverse effects by rinsing your mouth with water to wash away residual acid or use a fluoride mouthwash.
Acidic or Dried Fruits
If you’re looking for teeth friendly foods, then it’s best to pass over the citrus fruits like lemons, lime, oranges, grapefruit, etc. The citric acid wears down your enamel and helps create cavities. However, citrus fruits aren’t all bad. They’re an amazing source of Vitamin C which plays a huge role in supporting your immune system and protecting against heart disease.
Believe it or not, dried fruits are bad for your teeth. While they’re a popular snack for outdoor adventures and road trips, their sugar is more concentrated due to being dehydrated plus more sugar is often added. Their stickiness also helps them stay around longer, allowing them to do more harm than good.
Starchy Foods
Carbs are popular today, but your teeth aren’t their biggest fan. Bread and potatoes aren’t generally thought of as foods that are bad for your teeth. However, they can be if they linger in your mouth too long and the same goes for a lot of starches.
The problem arises when the starch gets in between teeth or stuck in the ridges on top of them. If you don’t floss them out or brush/rinse them away, they’ll break down into sugar which feeds the dental plaque.
Chewy Sour Candy
These are teeth enemy number one. They’re high in sugar and acidity, a dynamic duo of enamel destruction. Like starchy foods, they tend to stay around longer than you may even realize.
Foods to Help Your Teeth
While it may seem that every food hurts your teeth, there are numerous foods that help protect them.
Dairy
A key nutrient for healthy teeth is calcium, and that’s why dairy products are some of the best foods for your teeth. But did you know they also stimulate saliva production? After prolonged exposure, a number of dairy products, mainly milk and cheese can actually form a thin protective barrier around your teeth to mitigate the effects of sugar, acid, and bad bacteria.
Milk in particular can actually help negate the effects of sugary and acidic foods. It also helps and preventing demineralization by strengthening enamel.
Leafy Greens
Remember when your parents always told you it was important to eat your leafy greens? Well, they were right. Leafy green vegetables are full of vitamins and minerals that help keep your mouth healthy. Kale & spinach specifically are high in calcium amongst other leafy greens.
Dark Chocolate
Yes, some kinds of dark chocolate can actually help protect against cavities, but there are specific parameters. The best kind of dark chocolate for your teeth is 70% (or higher) cocoa with less than 10 grams of sugar per serving. The less processed it is the better, because this leaves more of the natural antioxidants in the chocolate rather than processing them out.
Good Oral Hygiene Habits
Besides food, one of the best ways to avoid getting cavities is by maintaining good oral hygiene habits. Brushing your teeth twice a day and flossing once daily is recommended and encouraged by any and all dentists.
Yet, there are still plaque and bacteria that your floss and toothbrush miss, which is why it’s important to see our dentist for a teeth cleaning every six months.
Related → What Happens During a Teeth Cleaning?
Schedule an Appointment
Our dentist in East Grand Rapids, MI, is accepting new patients. If you need a cavity filled or other dental service, you can call us at (616) 458-2048 to schedule an appointment with Richard Elias III, DDS.
