In this post from Turlock Dental Care in Turlock CA, we are talking about nutrition. There is nothing that impacts your smile as much as your eating habits.
1. Rinse after eating
Rinse your mouth with a drink of water or brush your teeth after meals. People who snack all day long subject their teeth to sugars and food debris. Planned meals with brushing in between keep your oral health on top.
2. Avoid sugary gum
Sugar-free gum doesn’t leave sugar to break down on your teeth and jeopardize your hard-earned healthy gums. If you are a gum chewer, do your smile a favor and go sugarless.
3. Avoid sticky foods
Sticky foods have a habit of clinging to your teeth, which puts you at risk of decay. Toffee, gummy candy, fruit snacks, and even excessive dried fruit can be risky for smiles. Brushing doesn’t always remove the obstinate particles, so remember to floss after eating sticky items.
4. Consume nutritious foods
A balanced diet with a variety of vitamins and minerals can keep the immune system strong and able to resist infection.
5. Say ‘cheese!’
Cheese contains calcium and protects teeth from acid that weakens tooth enamel. (It’s vital not to go overboard as cheese is high in fat.)
6. Avoid acidic foods
Acid will eat away enamel over time: lemons, red wine, soda pop. Limit direct, constant, consistent exposure. All things in moderation.
At Turlock Dental Care in Turlock CA we are passionate about dental health. We offer complete general dentistry, and patients from Modesto, Patterson, and Oakdale also improve their smiles with our cosmetic dentistry. Call to schedule an appointment today!
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Hello gum chewers! In this post from Turlock Dental Care in Turlock CA we’re going to talk about that sticky wad in your mouth. You know there can be benefits to gum chewing, but isn’t it a big risk for tooth decay?
It really depends on the type of gum. Chewing regular sucrose-based gum may be helpful in removing bits of food from the surface of teeth, but that benefit is negated by the stream of sugar washing over your teeth as you chew.
However, gum with some alternative sweeteners has an added benefit for your pearly whites. Xylitol is a sweetener which not only has fewer calories than traditional sugars, but it also has antimicrobial properties that lessen plaque build-up. This means that xylitol inhibits the growth of bacteria that causes decay.
So if you’re headed out to a restaurant, bring a pack of sugar-free gum with you and pop it in your mouth when your meal is done. Of course, brushing and flossing are the ideal practices for your oral health, but when you can’t brush, select a sugarless gum with xylitol.
At Turlock Dental Care in Turlock CA we offer complete cosmetic dentistry. Patients from Modesto, Patterson, and Oakdale also come to our office for restorative dentistry, sedation dentistry, and much more. Call to schedule your next checkup with us today!
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Toothaches happen. The best way to prevent them is to keep your teeth and gums healthy and clean. That means brushing and flossing twice a day, avoiding the sugary stuff, and having regular dental checkups. But they still happen sometimes, and when they do, see us at Turlock Dental Care in Turlock CA.
Toothaches may be characterized by a dull ache, or by throbbing and a sore, tender mouth. If something prevents you from getting to our office right away, there is short-term relief available to keep the pain at bay.
Here are some tried-and-true home remedies for a toothache:
- Cold Compress: An ice pack can do wonders to dull pain, especially when there is swelling. Another option is a bag of frozen vegetables – peas are really good because of their size. Hold it against the outside of your cheek just above the painful tooth. Alternate between several minutes on, several minutes off.
- Saltwater Rinse: Dissolve a teaspoon of salt into a glass of warm water, then swish it around your mouth for about half a minute. Then spit it out. A salt water rinse can loosen debris stuck in cavities and can reduce swelling. Repeat the rinse as often as you like.
- Garlic: Seriously, garlic. It might sound like hocus-pocus, but garlic has been used for medicinal purposes for centuries. It contains allicin, which has natural antibacterial properties. You can chew a piece of garlic or put diced bits on the tooth. Obviously, the downside is the smell!
- Painkillers: Aspirin or ibuprofen can provide temporary relief from a toothache. There are plenty of brands to choose from. If you decide on aspirin, swallow it. Some people think, erroneously, that placing aspirin directly on the tooth will help. It won’t, and could even hurt the inside of your mouth.
Of course, the sooner you get professional treatment, the better. And the best thing is to get to Turlock Dental Care in Turlock CA as soon as possible. Patients from Modesto, Patterson, and Oakdale come to us for toothache relief, emergency dental care, and general dentistry services. Contact us today!
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You rarely hear the word “toothpaste” without it being preceded by “fluoride.” Fluoride toothpaste is good for teeth, and at Turlock Dental Care in Turlock CA we encourage its use.
Fluoride is an essential mineral that helps your teeth stay strong. It is found in some foods and water and makes toothpastes more effective at fighting cavities. Fluoride helps teeth by making them stronger and more resistant to the harmful acid that is formed by bacteria.
If you wonder if you or your child is getting enough fluoride, talk to us about fluoride supplements. We will let you know if they are required and determine the precise supplement dosage.
At Turlock Dental Care in Turlock CA we are committed to maintaining the dental health of each of our valued patients. We serve patients from Modesto, Patterson, and Oakdale. Services include family and restorative dentistry. Call to schedule an appointment with us today!
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Preventing tooth decay is one of the main reasons people come to us, at Turlock Dental Care in Turlock CA . In this blog post, we’ll describe five things you should know about cavities.
- Cavities means tooth decay. They happen when certain bacteria produce acids that destroy a tooth’s hard surface, called enamel, and the underlying dentin.
- Factors that contribute to cavities include poor flossing and brushing habits, consuming too much sugar, and between-meal eating without cleaning.
- Symptoms of tooth decay include tooth pain, sensitivity to hot and cold foot and beverages, and pain while chewing.
- Cavities are most common among children, but adults can get them too.
- Tooth decay is preventable. Be sure to brush twice a day with a fluoride toothpaste, floss at least once, eat right, avoid frequent snacking, and have regular dental checkups.
At Turlock Dental Care in Turlock CA we want all our patients to enjoy the best possible dental health. People from Modesto, Patterson, and Oakdale come to us for complete family and restorative dentistry. Contact us today!
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