Taking oral care beyond brushing & flossing
By Allison Lawlor

Preventing Acid Wear

The Canadian Dental Association suggests some other simple steps:

•    Don’t swish acidic drinks around in your mouth – swallow them quickly. Use a straw to direct liquids away from your teeth.          

•    Don’t brush your teeth right after eating when the enamel is at its softest. Wait for at least an hour before brushing. You can also brush before eating and rinse with water after eating.

•    Time when you eat and drink. Grazing throughout the day can put your teeth under a constant acid attack.

For more ways to reduce the acid attack on your teeth, visit www.beacidaware.ca.

Want to keep your teeth healthy? You know what to do – brush at least twice a day, floss daily, and eat a well-balanced diet. Now, here are a few more ways to maintain your oral health, according to the latest expert advice.
Shake off sugar. One of the main causes of dental problems, the average Canadian eats the equivalent of 40 kg of sugar each year. “Prevention really is the best medicine,” says Dr. Shelly Anderson, a Sydney, NS-based dentist. “Limiting the sugar content of your foods is a good idea.”

Watch out for hidden sugars, she warns. Just because a product has the word “fruit” on its label doesn’t mean it’s good for you. Parents often think fruit leather products are a good snack for their children. But they are full of sugar, sticky and cling to teeth, making them harder to brush away, she says. If you have to eat sweets, having them with a meal rather than as a snack is a better idea, according to the Canadian Dental Association (CDA). The increased flow of saliva during a meal helps to wash away and dilute sugar.

Safe snacking
Also, look for less sugary, tooth-friendly foods. The CDA recommends the following choices:

•    Plain milk and buttermilk
•    Fruit and raw vegetables
•    Plain yogurt, cheese and cottage cheese
•    Hard boiled or devilled eggs
•    Nuts, sunflower or pumpkin seeds
•    Melba toast
•    Salads

Stop smoking. Not only does it cause bad breath and teeth discolouration but disease as well. “If you smoke, you put yourself at an increased risk of oral cancer,” says Dr. Anderson. Studies also show that smoking may be one of the most significant risk factors in developing periodontal (gum) disease. And smokers are more likely than non-smokers to have calculus – plaque that hardens on your teeth and can only be removed by a dentist.

Don’t let drugs dry out your mouth. Some high-blood pressure and depression medications can cause a dry mouth, says Dr. Anderson.  Decreased saliva flows increase the risk of dental decay. “Saliva has a natural action of eliminating some of the plaque build-up on teeth,” she says. If you have a dry mouth, Dr. Anderson suggests talking to your dentist about an over-the-counter saliva substitute and your doctor to try switching to a different medication.

Rule out sinus problems. Problems, like post-nasal drip or congestion, can not only cause bad breath, but it can also lead your teeth to ache.  “Sinus infections can mimic dental pain,” says Dr. Anderson. Have your dentist examine your teeth and gums to ensure that the source of tooth pain is not dental decay, she says.
Give foods the acid test. Acidic foods and drinks can wear down the tooth’s hard, protective enamel surface. Over time this process, known as acid wear, can lead to teeth becoming sensitive to cold or hot foods, and becoming transparent. “The biggest cause [of acid wear] is the acidic drinks,” says Dr. Anderson. Limiting consumption to one carbonated drinks, such as pop (even the sugar-free kind), per day can help reduce the risk. Fruit juices, such as apple, cranberry, and orange juice also have high acid levels.