Union Dental Health Watch
Did you know that your food choices also affect the health of your teeth? At Union Dental we know all to well that A Healthy Smile makes for a Healthy Body.
Our doctors believe they can play a key role in Your Total Wellness. We encourage healthy eating and living.
According to the American Dental Association, there is a growing concern among America’s dentists that many of their patients are consuming record numbers of sugar-filled drinks and non-nutritious snack foods that can harm teeth.
When you eat these types of foods, and even some foods that are otherwise healthy for your body, the bacteria in your mouth come in contact with sugars and starches and produce acids. If left in the mouth, these acids attack the teeth and destroy the enamel, eventually resulting in tooth decay.
Our dentists are recruited from the best dental schools in the country and most of our dentists have advanced degrees in dental specialities. Union Dental is led by an NYU graduate and the Oral Surgery Department is head by a Harvard graduate. In order to maintain their license each dentist is required by law to obtain approximately 15-30 continuing education unites per year, provided in-house by their affiliated dental group.
To protect your teeth, limit the amount of sugary and starchy foods you eat and the number of between-meal snacks. Because the acids can remain in your mouth for 20 minutes or more, snacking throughout the day puts your teeth at greater risk.
Sugary snacks are not the only culprits when it comes to tooth decay. Even healthful foods like fruits, milk, bread, cereals and even some vegetables contain natural sugars and starches that can lead to tooth decay.
Of course you shouldn’t stop eating these foods that are healthful for your body. You just need to be smarter about how and when you eat them. For example, when choosing fruit as a snack, firm, crunchy fruits like apples or pears and raw vegetables like carrots, celery or broccoli are a better choice.
Try to save foods like bread, soft fruits (bananas, raisins) and acidic fruits (oranges, lemons, tomatoes) to eat with a meal when the mouth is producing more saliva, which washes away some of the acids.
When you do snack, choose foods that are tooth-friendly like cheese, raw vegetables, nuts or plain yogurt. Choose water as your beverage between meals, and drink plenty of it.
Most importantly, brush and floss regularly. Whatever you eat, the sooner you get food particles and the acid they produce out of your mouth, the better off your teeth will be. You should brush your teeth at least three times a day and preferably after every meal and snack. Flossing is also important for good dental health. We believe you should floss after every meal to dislodge any food particles stuck between the teeth.
