{"id":204,"date":"2020-03-06T17:13:37","date_gmt":"2020-03-06T17:13:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.zumbrofamilydental.com\/blog\/?p=204"},"modified":"2020-03-06T17:14:00","modified_gmt":"2020-03-06T17:14:00","slug":"dentist-oral-health-habits","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.zumbrofamilydental.com\/blog\/dentist-oral-health-habits\/","title":{"rendered":"Keep Your Smile Safe with These 3 Oral Health Habits"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"Clean<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

You visit your\ndentist at least twice a year for a checkup and\ncleaning<\/a>; surely that\u2019s enough to help your smile last, right? Wrong. As\nimportant as these visits are, they won\u2019t be enough to keep your teeth and gums\nhealthy if you\u2019re not taking care of your mouth in the meantime. If you don\u2019t\nwant to become one of the thousands of Americans who suffer from gum disease\nand lost teeth, take control of your oral health today with these 3 clean teeth\nhabits.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

1. Be Careful What You Eat<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Certain foods are great for your teeth. For example, fresh,\ncrunchy fruits and vegetables such as apples and celery increase saliva\nproduction in the mouth and scrape away bacteria from the surface of the teeth\nwhile you chew. In other words, they can help you keep your smile clean\nthroughout the day. And of course, cheese and other foods that are high in\ncalcium will strengthen your teeth\u2019s defenses against decay. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

On the other hand, candy, cookies, chips, and anything else\nthat contains high amounts of sugar and carbohydrates can easily lead to cavities\nif you eat them too often. The bacteria in your mouth will turn sugar and\nbroken-down carbohydrates into an acid that wears down tooth enamel. These\nfoods don\u2019t need to be avoided entirely, but they shouldn\u2019t be consumed in\nexcess either.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. Stay Away from Acidic Drinks<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Soda, certain kinds of fruit juice, and wine are all acidic.\nThat means they\u2019ll dissolve the calcium and phosphate that strengthen your\nteeth and eventually break down your enamel. As such, your teeth will be much\nmore sensitive (meaning you\u2019ll feel pain whenever you bite into something hot\nor cold), and the risk of decay will be much higher. It\u2019s best to stay away\nfrom these beverages altogether, but if you do indulge from time to time,\nremember to wait at least half an hour to an hour before brushing your teeth.\n(Otherwise, you might unintentionally damage the weakened enamel.) If you have\na choice, drink water instead; it will help wash away the harmful substances in\nyour mouth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

3. Be Vigilant About Your Oral Hygiene<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The best way to avoid oral health issues is to develop a\nstrict oral hygiene regimen and follow it every day. This normally means:<\/p>\n\n\n\n