Food Choices & Oral Health
Plaque is the sticky film of food and bacteria that is continuously forming on your teeth. It contributes to the formation of cavities, gingivitis, periodontal disease and bad breath! This is hazardous not only to your oral health but to your overall health as well. If plaque isn't removed with a thorough cleaning between teeth it will eventually harden into calculus or tarter. As tartar collects above the gum line, brushing becomes more difficult. So, it is vital to minimize the plaque that exists in your mouth. To do this, you need to think about not only what you eat but how you eat!

How often you eat: Carbohydrate-containing foods cause acids to be released in your mouth. The more often carbs are eaten, the more chances the acid has to damage your teeth.

Type of food: Some foods stick to grooves in the teeth and between teeth. Examples of these are - crackers, potato chips, raisins, fruit gummies and most other chewy sweets.

Time food remains in mouth: Foods that dissolve slowly, like cookies and granola bars, give acids more time to work on destroying tooth enamel.

Whether food consumed is part of a meal: Sticky or high-carbohydrate foods create less acid when they are eaten as part of a meal. Why? Because saliva
production increases at mealtime which not only rinses away food particles, but also neutralizes acid and helps remineralize teeth.


AFTER YOU EAT GET RID OF FOOD DEBRIS!


After having a snack or meal, it’s really important to clean food debris off your teeth as best as you can. Dr. Bertolini prefers cleaning them by brushing or flossing. But since this not always possible, try one of these temporary tooth -cleaners (until you can get to a toothbrush):

~ Chew a piece xylitol containing gum. Xylitol inhibits bacteria and the chewing
will increase saliva production (which helps to rinse food away).

~ Rinse with mouthwash for about one minute.

~ Rinse your mouth thoroughly with water.