Colorado Springs Dentists Explain 8 Healthy Habits to Protect Your Dental Enamel, PART 2

This four-part article series explains eight changes you can make to your diet and lifestyle to keep your dental enamel healthy, thereby helping to prevent tooth loss in the long run.

Welcome to the second installment of this four-part article series on the healthy habits we can cultivate in order to help protect our dental enamel against decay and acid erosion. In Part 1, the panel of Colorado Springs dentists we consulted with explained that Step # 1 and # 2 in the right direction were: (1) decrease the amount of sugar in your diet – that means avoiding sodas, fruit juices and sugary snacks, sweeties and candies, and (2) increase your intake of calcium-rich foods, such as low-fat or fat-free yogurts, cheeses and milk.

Let’s take a look at the next two important tips for great enamel health and beautiful teeth…

Healthy Enamel Tip # 3: Don’t Over-brush!

Chances are you’ve heard the saying “too much of a good thing is bad.” Well this stands true for brushing your teeth because brushing too frequently can actually lead to the erosion of your dental enamel. Additionally, brushing too aggressively can achieve similar destructive results.

Orthodontists in Colorado Springs typically recommend that patients opt for a medium to soft-bristled brush and make use of short circular strokes when brushing their teeth. If you notice that the bristles of your toothbrush become frayed soon after coming out of the packaging, then you are probably brushing too hard. This kind of habit can also cause the gums to recede from the crowns of the teeth, which reveals the darker and more sensitive tooth roots. This is frequently the cause of tooth sensitivity in adults.

“It’s important that you brush correctly because the whole point of this exercise is to protect your teeth, not damage them,” say the dentists. “Also, try not to brush immediately after eating because the sugars and acids naturally contained by the foods we eat can soften your dental enamel. Wait 30 minutes and your enamel will remineralize as the pH levels in your mouth neutralize.”

Healthy Enamel Tip # 4: Seek Treatment for Acid Reflux, Heartburn and Bulimia

Stomach acid can cause extensive damage to the protective enamel covering your teeth and conditions such as severe heartburn and acid reflux are known to bring this acid up and into the esophagus, according to orthodontists in Colorado Springs. This can leave your teeth – your molars especially – vulnerable to acid erosion, so speak to your doctor about how you can control chronic acid reflux and heartburn.

Another problem that can, in the long term, do terrible damage to your teeth is an eating disorder known as bulimia. Repeated vomiting exposes the teeth to stomach acid. This, coupled with the binge eating of usually unhealthy, sugar-rich foods can put your teeth on the fast track to decay, so it is crucial that Colorado Springs residents suffering from this condition seek professional treatment for it.

Stay Tuned for Part 3

Stay tuned for the third installment of this four-part article series to learn more about the necessary healthy habits for good dental health, courtesy of the advice of our panel of Colorado Springs dentists.