Keeping your mouth healthy
The health of your mouth largely depends on what goes into it and how you take care of it. There are a few simple ways to care for your mouth and teeth:Be mindful of what you eat and drink. A healthy diet is good for your mouth as well as the rest of your body. Sugar isn’t taboo, but it’s important to consider that sugar provides energy not only for you, but also for decay-causing bacteria that live in your mouth. Sugars that linger, such as hard candies and other sticky foods, or sweet drinks that are sipped throughout the day, give the bacteria more time to consume them and produce acids that can lead to tooth decay. Sugars eaten alone or with starches (as with baked goods) are riskier than sugars eaten with a meal.
Besides reducing sugar exposure, choose mouth-healthy foods when possible. For example, peanuts and hard cheeses make saliva less acidic, which can reduce the likelihood of tooth decay. Foods containing calcium, vitamin D, vitamin C, folic acid, iron, and zinc also are great for keeping bones strong and maintaining the health of your gums. And protein nourishes the connective tissue that supports your teeth.
Understand the effects of alcohol and tobacco. Alcohol use is a risk factor for oral cancer, and many alcoholic drinks contain sugar as well.
Smokers are twice as likely as nonsmokers to develop periodontal disease, and all tobacco users have an increased risk of oral cancer. Tobacco use also can increase the risk of tooth decay; this is especially true for chewing-tobacco users, who have up to four times the risk of people who don’t use tobacco.
Know your medications. Hundreds of medications also can affect mouth health. The most common medication-related side effect is dry mouth, which can prevent sugars from washing away and limit saliva’s naturally protective effects, increasing the risks of decay and gingivitis, the earliest stage of periodontal (gum) disease. Some medications also can cause extra gum growth, yeast infections, mouth sores, or tooth stains. When starting a new medication, ask your doctor about any potential side effects, in the mouth or elsewhere, and what to do to prevent or address them. Furthermore, be sure to tell your dentist about existing and new medications.
Keep your teeth and gums clean. Daily at-home care of your mouth is a crucial part of overall health. Careful brushing and flossing help to prevent tooth decay and gum disease and can even reverse them at early stages.
Visit the dentist regularly. Tooth decay, gum disease, and oral cancer all have warning signs, and your dentist is an expert at seeing those signs and providing early treatment. Fixing a minor issue is simpler, less uncomfortable, and less timeconsuming and costly than treating problems that have worsened over time. This is why regular dental visits are so important.
