Do you have a sweet tooth? A sweet treat now and then is a perfectly acceptable way to indulge in that sweet tooth; however, the kind of treats you pick can affect your oral health. We already know that sweets and desserts tend to be high in sugar, but candy – especially hard candy – can negatively affect your teeth. Here’s the scoop on what’s in your candy dish.

Types of candy

Candy is a large category of sweets that encompasses everything from chocolate bars to truffles to lollipops and butterscotch candies. Not all candy affects your oral health in the same way.

• Sticky or chewy candy, including gummy type candies, caramels, taffy, toffees: These types can dislodge dental and orthodontic appliances.
• Chocolates
• Hard candies, including peppermints, butterscotches, lollipops, lozenges

Why is hard candy bad for my teeth?

Most candies are created with a base of sugar and fat. Softer candies tend to have more fat than the hard candies (i.e., soft caramel has more butter and cream than the hard caramels). The hard candies have much more sugar; this is part of what makes them hard.

However, all of that sugar creates the perfect environment for cavities. Not only is there an increased amount of sugar, but the sugar sits for a prolonged time on the teeth while the hard candy melts and dissolves in the mouth.

The link between sugar and cavities

Sugar by itself does not create a cavity, but sugar does feed the bacteria that cause cavities. As the bacteria feed on sugar, they produce acid, and it is that acid that eats away at the tooth enamel.

What kind of candy can I eat?

We get it; no one wants to hear that they have to ban candy forever, but choosing the right candy and taking the necessary steps can help you safely enjoy the candy you do eat. Chocolate tends to be a better choice (as opposed to hard candy or chewy candy) because it rinses off the teeth much easier and does not sit in the mouth as long as a hard candy does.

Still, if you choose to eat hard candy, you can minimize the impact on your oral health, by following these steps:

• Eat candy in moderation: The more you eat, the more sugar that is introduced into your mouth.
• Drink water after eating candy: Water helps flush out any lingering sugars from the candy.
• Eat candy with a meal: Once you finish your veggies, of course! Because your mouth has already produced more saliva during the mealtime, eating candy with a meal helps prevent decay.The salvia fights the acid in your mouth and also helps flush out the sugar quicker.
• Floss and brush: As soon as you are able, floss and brush after eating candy.

Whether you treat yourself to a piece of candy once a week or once a month, remember to keep your routine dental appointments and to maintain a solid oral care routine. If you have questions about hard candy or cavities, don’t hesitate to ask us!

Did you know that only 10% of Americans meet the minimum recommendation for daily fruit servings? Fruit isn’t just a sweet treat for breakfast; fruit can be a wonderful source of vitamins (especially vitamin C), antioxidants, and fiber. As a bonus, diets rich in fruits (and vegetables) can help lower the risk of heart disease, cancer, and diabetes.

Benefits of dried fruit

Nutritionists recommend eating a certain number servings per day (ranging from one cup for children and up to 2 cups per day for men), and those servings can come from fresh fruit, 100% fruit juice, and even dried fruit. Dried fruit is a popular choice for many people because:

• Dried fruit is not as fragile as fresh fruit
• It is easy to carry to work or school
• Dried fruit has a much longer shelf life than fresh fruit
• Due to high fiber content, dried fruit helps regulate the digestive system
• Dried fruit is convenient as it does not need to be washed, peeled, or cut

Dried fruit and dental issues

Despite the health benefits of dried fruit, you may have heard that dried fruit is not an ideal food, regarding dental health.

• Sticky: The American Dental Association recommends avoiding sticky foods, especially for those with dental appliances in their mouth. Sticky foods can also cause problems because the food sits on the teeth longer than other foods.
• Sugar content: Because excess sugar consumption can lead to dental caries, many individuals worry that eating too much dried fruit can introduce too much sugar into the mouth. Ounce per ounce, dried fruit contains more sugar than fresh. However, the portion size of dried fruit is 30 grams compared to 80 grams of fresh fruit.
• Damage to dental pieces: The stickiness of dried fruit can cause damage to braces, crowns, or other orthodontic pieces.

So is dried fruit good for us? Overall, yes. There are many positive benefits to eating dried fruit, especially if it hard for you to meet your minimum intake goals of fruit each day. Are the risks to dental health too much to risk? Eating dried fruit can be done with a few precautions.

But I love dried fruit! Now what?

Can’t get enough dried apricots in your oatmeal? Do you kids love raisins in their lunchbox? The good news is that dried fruit doesn’t have to be completely cut out of your diet! The British Nutrition Foundation studied the effects of dried fruit on dental health, particularly in children. Surprisingly, dried fruit “sticks” more to teeth when eaten alone. The solution? Include dried fruit with your meal rather than a stand-alone snack.

Additionally, after consuming dried fruit, dentists recommend the following:

• Eat the recommended serving size of dried fruit to avoid eating too much sugar in one sitting
• Rinse with water after eating dried fruit
• Flossing: Pre-flossed flossers may be ideal in this situation
• Brush your teeth: After eating any sticky or sugary food, brushing is recommended.

If you have questions about your particular dental history, call Dupont Dental today to learn how dried fruit may affect your specific dental appliances.

To prevent periodontal disease, it is necessary to have an effective oral health routine that includes regular brushing, flossing, and dental visits. However, what you eat and drink is also an important factor.

Your Gums and Your Health

The condition of your gums reflects your general health. If all of your bodily systems are functioning as they should, your body is better able to fight inflammation and illnesses. This means that your gums are more likely to be healthy and able to fight off the bacteria that can cause gingivitis, the precursor to periodontal disease. However, if you are not consuming the right nutrients, the resulting nutritional deficiencies will cause your gums to suffer. To stave off periodontal disease, it is important that you provide the nutrients your body needs with a well-balanced diet.

About Periodontal Disease

Periodontal disease is often considered to be an inflammatory disease. The bacteria that attacks your gums causes certain chemicals to be released in your gums, resulting in the inflammation of the tissue, which in turn, stimulates the nerves and creates sore, painful gums, infections, and loosened teeth. A healthy diet that contains plenty of anti-inflammatory foods with certain minerals and vitamins can help you have overall good health as well as good periodontal health.

Vitamin C

A deficiency in vitamin C is a common factor in people who suffer from gingivitis and periodontal disease, according to one study. Whether you eat an orange or drink a glass of freshly squeezed orange juice, be sure that you get your required amount a Vitamin C every day.

Omega-3 Fatty Acids

Omega-3 fatty acids are very effective in reducing inflammation, and as a result, preventing periodontal disease. Foods that contain these acids include walnuts, flaxseed oil and fatty fishes, such as tuna and salmon.

Zinc

Zinc is a mineral that has a significant role in growing, healing and repairing cells. According to one study, people who had a diet rich in zinc had periodontal health significantly better than those who were deficient in zinc. Oysters are extremely high in zinc. Some other common sources of zinc include nuts and red meat.

Beta-Carotene

Beta-carotene is a pigment and provitamin that gives many foods their orange color. Your body converts the substance into vitamin A, which is essential in the fight against inflammation and supporting health mucous membranes, such as your gums. According to research, non-smokers who consume diets that include foods that are high in beta-carotene can better fight off periodontal disease.

Make Wise Choices Regarding Your Diet

Here are some other dietary tips you can use to improve your oral health and avoid periodontal disease:

• Consume plenty of foods that have calcium
• Rinse thoroughly with water after eating sugar snacks
• Avoid sugary drinks like soda, or choose sugar-free options
• Drink water regularly
• Opt for whole-grain foods instead of those made with white flour

The right diet is just one part of what is needed to have good oral health. Ask Dupont Dental about what other steps you should take to ensure that you can avoid periodontal disease.

There are foods and drinks that you already know can cause harm to your teeth and affect your oral health. However, you should be aware that there are many types of foods, some of which are healthy in other ways, that may not be easily recognized as also being bad for your teeth. While nothing replaces having a good oral hygiene routine, protect the health of your teeth even more by eliminating or limiting these foods from your diet.

Ice

While ice is just water, it is the state of the water that can damage your teeth. To chew ice, you have to exert substantial pressure on your teeth. This can not only cause damage to your teeth enamel if you bite down in the wrong way, but you can also risk cracking a tooth. If you enjoy ice as a snack, refrain from chewing the ice. Instead, suck on the ice cubes.

Prosecco

The sugar and acid content in the bubbly, Italian white wine can be just as damaging to your smile as coffee and soda. Your tooth enamel can be worn away by the drink if you do not drink it in moderation and take excellent care of your teeth.

Bread

The danger bread can present to your teeth is sugars can be formed from the starches in the bread. The longer the sugars remain on your teeth, the more time they have to wear away at the enamel. Just make sure to carefully brush your teeth and floss thoroughly after eating any starchy foods to keep your teeth in good condition.

Bottled Water

The companies that sell bottled water routinely add certain minerals to improve the taste of the water. This results in water that is slightly more acidic than the water you would drink from the tap. Drinking enough of the bottled water daily means that your teeth are being constantly exposed to water that can damage the enamel and cause other health complications.

Dried Fruits

Dried fruits are some of the foods that present a wide range of health-related benefits, but are still bad for your teeth. Dried apples, prunes, raisin, dried mangos, dried pineapples, dried apricots, dried bananas and other delicious and popular dried fruits can easily adhere to the surface of your teeth and in between your teeth. Once the food particles are there and are not properly brushed or flossed away, they become food havens for the bacteria that can cause tooth decay and gum disease.

Foods Containing Citrus

Not only do you have to be concerned with the citrus, or citric acid, that occurs naturally in foods like lemons, oranges, tomatoes and other fruits and vegetables, but you have to be careful of the citrus that is used as an additive in numerous processed foods in order to give them a longer shelf life. Citrus can be hazardous to your oral health because it can erode the enamel from your teeth, making them more vulnerable to decay. To reduce your citrus intake, opt for fruits with low citrus content and examine the ingredient list of processed foods before you buy.

For some foods that are good for your oral health, click HERE.

Recent research has found out a relation between a change in diet and periodontal health. This discovery has led dentists to believe there’s a new way to fight periodontitis.

Periodontitis refers to inflammation around the tooth. It’s one of the more severe gum diseases out there. Anyone with poor periodontal health is putting their teeth and gums in danger. These diseases are infections that cause damage to the bone supporting the tooth. It’s also harmful to the soft tissue around the area too.

If you don’t treat this disease, you can end up losing the affected teeth. Furthermore, it has the potential to cause other health issues too. Some studies link poor periodontal health to heart attacks and strokes.

So, according to health experts, changing your diet can help you achieve better periodontal health. The primary focus is to eat foods that target inflammation in your body. As periodontitis is an inflammatory disease, it’s easy to see how the two things relate. There are certain foods out there that cause an increased risk of inflammation. For example, if your diet consists of a lot of carbohydrates, then this can be bad for you. Obviously, carbs are a good source of energy. But, they’re bad for inflammatory diseases. Instead, you should reduce your intake, and look to add other things into your diet.

It’s found that there are five main things you should increase to create an anti-inflammatory diet. The first of which is vitamin C, which can be found in many fruits like oranges and bananas. Secondly, you should also look to increase your vitamin D intake. A good source of vitamin D includes fatty fish like tuna and salmon. And, that leads us nicely into the third thing; omega-3 fatty acids. These are also mainly found in fish, and help reduce inflammation of the periodontal tissues. The final two things are antioxidants and fiber. Again, you’ll find many fruit and veg with antioxidant qualities that are also rich in fiber.

The research into this relation between periodontal health and diet was carried out over six weeks. Scientists looked at two groups of people with gum disease. One group carried on with their high-carb diet, while the other reduced carbs and increased all the things mentioned above. All of the participants were told they couldn’t make changes to their oral health during the study. So, if they didn’t floss before, they couldn’t start flossing during it. This was to try and keep the results fixed firmly on their different diets.

When the study concluded, they saw that the group that changed their diet showed reduced inflammation. To go along with this, increasing fatty acids and fibers helped to improve their plaque index.

Some critics argue that the sample size isn’t big enough to draw proper conclusions. So, they want more research into this theory. However, you can’t argue with the results. Switching to an anti-inflammatory diet helps to improve periodontal health in some cases. It’s interesting to see how something as simple as a change in diet can contribute to fighting such a serious oral disease.