The Basics of Oral Health

KEEPING YOUR SMILE HEALTHY

Dental and oral health is an essential part of your overall health and well-being. Good oral and dental hygiene canhelp prevent bad breath, tooth decay and gum disease—and can help you keep your teeth as you get older.

Maintaining healthy teeth and gums is a l ifelong commitment. The earlier you learn proper oral hygiene habits —such as brushing, flossing, and limiting your sugar intake — the easier it’ l l be to avoid costly dental procedures

and long-term health issues.

Brush your teeth with fluoride toothpaste at least twice a dayReplace your toothbrush or toothbrush head every three to four monthsFloss at least once a day (one of the most beneficial things you can do to prevent disease in youroral cavity)Brush your tongue to remove bacteria and freshen your breathConsider using a mouth wash (helps reduce the amount of acid and cleans hard to reach areas)Visit a dentist one to two times a year for a cleaning and checkupAvoid tobacco productsFollow a high-fiber, low-fat, low-sugar diet that includes plenty of fruits and vegetablesLimit sugary snacks and drinks. Foods with hidden sugars include: condiments such as ketchup,canned fruit, flavored yogurts, juice blends, muffins, and cereals.Stay hydrated

Good oral health boils down to good general health and daily dental habits. The best ways to preventoral health problems are to:

KEEPING YOUR TEETH & GUMS HEALTHY

Like many areas of the body, your mouth is teeming with bacteria—most of them harmless. Normally the body'snatural defenses and good oral health care, such as daily brushing and flossing, can keep these bacteria undercontrol. However, without proper oral hygiene, bacteria can reach levels that might lead to oral infections, suchas tooth decay and gum disease. In addition, certain medications—such as decongestants, antihistamines, painkil lers, diuretics, and antidepressants—can reduce saliva flow. Saliva washes away food and neutralizes acids produced by bacteria in the mouth,helping to protect you from microbial invasion or overgrowth that might lead to disease. Studies also suggest thatoral bacteria and the inflammation associated with periodontitis—a severe form of gum disease—might play a rolein some diseases. In addition, certain diseases, such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease, can lower the body'sresistance to infection, making oral health problems more severe.

THE LINK BETWEEN ORAL AND GENERAL HEALTH

WELLNESS COUNCIL OF ARIZONA I CONTACT@WELCOAZ.ORG I (520) 293-3369

Snacking & Dental HealthFor dental health, it’s recommended that people limit eating and drinking betweenmeals. Of course, sometimes eating between meals must happen. Unfortunately, mostpeople choose foods like sweets and chips for snacks; foods that harm teeth bypromoting tooth decay. If you do snack, make it a nutritious choice—such as cheese,yogurt, fruits, vegetables or nuts—for your overall health and the health of your teeth.

Foods That Harm Your Dental HealthEmpty calorie foods such as candy (especially hard or sticky candies like lollipops,mints, taffy and caramel), sweets like cookies, cakes and muffins, and snack foodslike chips are a cause for dental concern, not only because they offer no nutritionalvalue, but because the amount and type of sugar that they contain that can adhere toteeth. The bacteria in your mouth feed off these sugars, releasing acids, and that’swhat leads to tooth decay. Sugar-containing drinks—soda, lemonade, juice and sweetened coffee or tea (iced orhot)—are particularly harmful because sipping them causes a constant sugar bathover teeth, which promotes tooth decay. Nutritious, acidic foods like tomatoes and citrus fruits can have acidic effects ontooth enamel, too, so eat them as part of a meal, not by themselves. Dried fruits,including raisins, are also good choices for a healthy diet, but since they are sticky andadhere to teeth, the plaque acids that they produce continue to harm teeth long afteryou stop eating them. Opt for a piece of fresh fruit instead.

Foods That Benefit Your Dental HealthCheese, milk, plain yogurt, calcium-fortified tofu, leafy greens and almonds, are foodsthat may benefit tooth health thanks to their high amounts of calcium and othernutrients they provide. Protein-rich foods like meat, poultry, fish, milk and eggs are thebest sources of phosphorus. Both of these minerals play a critical role in dentalhealth, by protecting and rebuilding tooth enamel. Fruits and vegetables are good choices for a healthy smile since they are high in waterand fiber, which balance the sugars they contain and help to clean the teeth. Thesefoods also help stimulate saliva production, which washes harmful acids and foodparticles away from teeth and helps neutralize acid, protecting teeth from decay. Plus,many contain vitamin C (important for healthy gums and quick healing of wounds) andvitamin A (another key nutrient in building tooth enamel).

Your mouth, teeth, and gums are more than just tools for eating. They’re essential forchewing and swallowing—the first steps in the digestion process. Your mouth is yourbody’s initial point of contact with the nutrients you consume. So what you put in yourmouth impacts not only your general health but also that of your teeth and gums. Infact, if your nutrition is poor, the first signs often show up in your mouth.

Eating for a Healthy Mouth

Wellness Council of Arizonacontact@welcoaz.org I (520) 293-3369