Fruit - Is It Good or Actually Bad?

Fruit has a mostly great reputation in the health community. But some groups think that fruit can have negative effects on your health. So... Which is true? Is fruit good or bad for your overall health? Access Dental and Dentures is the best dentist in Missouri and we are here to help answer that question for you! Keep reading to learn the positive and negative effects that fruit can have. 

Sugars & Carbs

Fruit contains natural sugars and contain carbohydrates. Many refined carbohydrates transition into sugars as well, so there can be quite a bit of sugar in most fruits. Some people on low-carb diets (such as Atkins and Keto) will avoid fruit almost entirely because of their carb content. However, when compared with packaged overly-processed foods, fruit is the significantly healthier option overall. Just keep in mind that the sugar content could be feeding bacteria between your teeth, which will wear away at your enamel. Be sure to brush your teeth regularly so the fruit has less contact time with your teeth. 

Vitamins & Minerals

Fruits have several vitamins and minerals that help keep your body healthy. One of the most notable vitamins found in several fruits is Vitamin C. This vitamin is infamous for helping stave off the common cold and giving your immune system a boost. Vitamin C is considered an antioxidant and helps with inflammation and the healing process from injuries or damage. Fruits that contain Vitamin C include oranges, grapefruit, kiwi, tomato, cantaloupe, strawberries, and more!

Acid Content 

Fresh fruit, especially citrus like lemons, limes, oranges, grapefruit, etc., are high in acid. This acid can erode the enamel on your teeth, causing them to be sensitive and more prone to cavities. To get the health benefits of fruit without causing too much damage to your teeth, try drinking water when you eat them. Drinking water can help to wash away some of the acid so your teeth aren't exposed for as long. If you're drinking fruit juice, try using a straw to reduce the amount of time it's touching your teeth. 

High Fiber & Low Caloric Density 

Another great health benefit of fruits is their high fiber content and relatively low caloric density. The fruits that contain a lot of fiber can help keep you feeling full for longer amount of time. This helps prevent you from craving junk food and over-snacking. Fruit also contains a high volume of water which means the calories are spread out across more volume. (Example: 10 grapes will keep you fuller than 10 raisins.) 

Dental Health & Diet

One of the ways you can help keep your teeth in top condition is by following a balanced diet. Enjoy the benefit of the increased vitamins, minerals, and fiber by including more fruit in your diet. Just make sure to keep up your regular dental habits and rinse your mouth out after eating to prevent too much sugar and acid being in contact with your teeth. Also be sure to set up regular dentist appointments to checkup on your teeth and keep them clean and healthy. Call Access Dental and Dentures to learn more and schedule an appointment! 

We want to be your dentist because your family deserves a great smile! 

1-877-DENTIST

Visit our Website
Like us on Facebook

Follow us on Twitter

Connect with us on LinkedIn

Your Diet's pH & Your Teeth

The summer is full of fun and tasty treats like fresh fruit, juice, soda, sweets... Delicious, right?! While these might be fun treats that make the summer even more special, they can also cause a lot of acid erosion to your teeth. Aside from the high sugar content in a lot of these, there is also a lot of acidity in them. Acid wears on your teeth and can slow strip the protective enamel layer away. No one wants that! At Access Dental and Dentures, we're all about making sure your teeth are healthy and you feel confident and happy with your smile. Keep reading to learn how to make that happen while protecting your teeth from erosion. 

Signs of Erosion

If you consume a lot of acidic foods and drinks as part of your diet, then you could be on the path to some serious dental issues. Check out these signs and symptoms to see if your enamel may already be experiencing erosion. 

• Tooth Sensitivity - Hot, cold, and overly sweet items will cause tooth pain.
• Discoloration - Teeth will become more and more yellow.
• Rounding - Teeth may start to look rounded as corners wear away.
• Transparent Teeth - Teeth might start looking somewhat see-through, especially at the edges.
• Cracks & Cupping - Small cracks and dents may appear on your teeth.

Juice

Juice might seem healthy because it comes from fruit, but it can actually be deceiving. Juice from the grocery store is concentrated and high in sugar and acidity. Instead of drinking a glass of apple juice, try eating fresh apple slices to give yourself a boost without the adding calories, sugar, and tooth-destroying acid. 

Fresh Fruit

Fresh fruit, especially citrus like lemons, limes, oranges, grapefruit, etc., can have a lot of overall health benefits, but they are also very high in acid. This acid can erode the enamel on your teeth, causing them to be sensitive and more prone to cavities. To get the health benefits of these fruits without causing too much damage to your teeth, try drinking water when you eat them. Drinking water can help to wash away some of the acid so your teeth aren't exposed for as long.

Sweets & Candy

Who doesn't love treating themselves every once in a while? While some treats are okay in moderation, an excessive amount of sweets is very bad for your teeth. Sour candy can be particularly bad because of the high levels of acid used to make that sour taste. Sugar itself is bad enough, but it can also cause more issues by providing food to acid-creating bacteria in your mouth.

Soda

Carbonated drinks are notorious bad for your health. Not only are they full or artificial flavors and coloring, they also contain a significant amount of harmful sugars and acid. The acid in soda is incredibly harmful to teeth and makes regular and diet soda equally as bad for your dental health. Instead of ordering soda at the restaurant, try replacing it with water or another less-acidic beverage.

Prevent Acid Erosion

To help protect your teeth from acid erosion, try following some of these great tips: 

• Drink plenty of water and rinse your mouth after you eat or drink something acidic.
• Try using a straw so that acidic drinks have less contact with your teeth.
• Avoid too much sugar so acid-creating bacteria won't thrive in your mouth. 
• Don't brush your teeth right after eating or drinking something acidic. Scrubbing that acid content into your teeth can make it even worse  
• Try watering your juice down a little bit. Not only does this help weaken the level of acidity, but it can also help cut calories while still giving you the flavor your crave! 
• Go to the dentist regularly. Regularly visiting the dentist's office for checkups is important to make sure your teeth aren't eroding. 

Missouri's Best Dentist

Access Dental and Dentures wants to make sure you are happy and healthy with the best dental care in the state of Missouri. If you think that acid erosion has become an issue for your teeth. Try following the tips from today's blog and schedule an appointment at one of our many convenient clinics to get checked out. We're here for you! 

We want to be your dentist because your family deserves a great smile! 

1-877-DENTIST

Visit our Website
Like us on Facebook

Follow us on Twitter

Connect with us on LinkedIn

Acid Erosion! Learn How to Avoid It.

The main focus of dieting for dental health tends to be to avoid sugar. However, it is also very important to limit the amount of acidic foods and drinks in your diet in order to protect your teeth from erosion. Access Dental and Dentures is has the best dental clinics in southern Missouri, and we are here to help identify some common foods and drinks that may be causing acid erosion of your tooth enamel. We also have some great tips to help you know if this is happening to you, and how to prevent it. Keep reading to learn more!

Acidic Drinks

Soda

Carbonated drinks are notorious bad for your health. Not only are they full or artificial flavors and coloring, they also contain a significant amount of harmful sugars and acid. The acid in soda is incredibly harmful to teeth and makes regular and diet soda equally as bad for your dental health. Instead of ordering soda at the restaurant, try replacing it with water or another less-acidic beverage.

Juice

Juice might seem healthy because it comes from fruit, but it can actually be deceiving. Juice from the grocery store is concentrated and high in sugar and acidity. Instead of drinking a glass of apple juice, try eating fresh apple slices to give yourself a boost without the adding calories, sugar, and tooth-destroying acid. 

Food & Other Acid Sources

Citrus

Citrus fruits (lemons, limes, oranges, grapefruit, etc.) can have a lot of overall health benefits, but they are also very high in acid. This acid can erode the enamel on your teeth, causing them to be sensitive and more prone to cavities. To get the health benefits of these fruits without causing too much damage to your teeth, try drinking water when you eat them. Drinking water can help to wash away some of the acid so your teeth aren't exposed for as long.

Sweets

Who doesn't love treating themselves every once in a while? While some treats are okay in moderation, an excessive amount of sweets is very bad for your teeth. Sour candy can be particularly bad because of the high levels of acid used to make that sour taste. Sugar itself is bad enough, but it can also cause more issues by providing food to acid-creating bacteria in your mouth.

Stomach Acid

This is clearly an acid that you want to avoid. If you get frequent upset stomachs or acid reflux, then your enamel could be suffering from erosion due to the additional exposure to acid. If you suffer from these conditions, it is important to seek professional, medical help.

Signs of Erosion

If you consume a lot of acidic foods and drinks as part of your diet, then you could be on the path to some serious dental issues. Check out these signs and symptoms to see if your enamel may already be experiencing erosion. 

• Tooth Sensitivity - Hot, cold, and overly sweet items will cause tooth pain.
• Discoloration - Teeth will become more and more yellow.
• Rounding - Teeth may start to look rounded as corners wear away.
• Transparent Teeth - Teeth might start looking somewhat see-through, especially at the edges.
• Cracks & Cupping - Small cracks and dents may appear on your teeth.

How to Prevent Erosion

To help protect your teeth from acid erosion, try following some of these great tips: 

• RINSE with water when you eat or drink something acidic.
• SIP through a straw so that acidic drinks have less contact with your teeth.
• LIMIT sugar intake so that acid-creating bacteria won't thrive in your mouth. 
• WAIT to brush your teeth. Brushing right after consuming something acidic will scrub the acid into your teeth even more. 
• NEUTRALIZE acidic foods and drinks with foods that are on the basic end of the acidity spectrum.
• WEAKEN drinks that are highly acidic, like juice, by watering them down so they're less intense.
• VISIT the dentist. Regularly visiting the dentist's office for checkups is important to make sure your teeth aren't becoming eroded. 

Your Local Dentist

If you are concerned about the health or strength of your teeth, give Access Dental and Dentures a call. We would love to help educate you on what can help improve your dental health, as well as provide a cleaning and check-up to keep your teeth as healthy as possible. Call today!

We want to be your dentist because your family deserves a great smile! 

1-877-DENTIST

Visit our Website
Like us on Facebook

Follow us on Twitter

Connect with us on LinkedIn