Smiles are a huge factor in the self confidence of many people. Everyone wants to have a beautiful smile they can feel good about. Getting and keeping a gorgeous grin doesn’t just happen though. It takes work. As it turns out, there are some major threats to your oral health that can wreak havoc on your smile.
Acidic Foods
Your enamel is essential to the health of your teeth. Exposure to acidic foods damages enamel over time and can cause it to crack and wear away. Most people are familiar with the idea that soda, energy drinks, and sour candies are acidic and bad for your teeth. Acidic foods aren’t just limited to unhealthy fare though. Many healthy foods, such as avocados, broccoli, cucumbers, and bananas are slightly acidic. Others, such as black tea, figs, pears, apples, and honey are moderately acidic. Citrus fruits and juices, tomatoes, vinegar, cherries, and wine are highly acidic and can do damage to your teeth. If you choose to consume acidic foods, eat them as part of a meal, not by themselves.
Bacteria
Bacteria are another significant threat to your oral health. Bacteria in your mouth destroys your tooth enamel which leads to tooth decay. These organisms consume sugar from the food and drink you put in your mouth. They produce high quantities of lactic acid, which wears away your tooth enamel, causing its destruction. If you’ve ever heard your dentist talk about having plaque, that’s what the bacteria collect in. It’s usually found in areas of the mouth less commonly exposed to saliva.
Poor Oral Hygiene
Good oral hygiene is necessary to combat the threats posed by acidic foods, bacteria, and other sources of tooth damage. As such, poor oral hygiene poses at least as much of a threat to your oral health as the previous threats. Brushing your teeth properly helps keep plaque from building up and can help remove what has already built up. It cleans your teeth of acids and sugars that can weaken your enamel. Of course, not all plaque is where your toothbrush can get to, which is why you need to floss. Flossing helps get rid of plaque buildup between your teeth and prevents gum diseases like gingivitis.
As much as everyone wants a beautiful smile, not everyone puts in the work to protect what they have. Acidic foods, bacteria, and poor oral hygiene pose major threats to your oral health. If you want your smile to stay beautiful throughout your life, take action to prevent these threats from damaging your dentition.
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