Dental Health
causes of tooth enamel erosion. You should limit drinking soda and fruit drinks because they are full of acids that damage teeth. A diet high in sugar and starches or acidic fruit (lemons, lime, oranges) increases bacteria that cause cavities. Some medical conditions cause abnormal enamel. Brushing teeth too hard, grinding teeth, biting nails and chewing on nonfood items can also cause damage that cannot be fixed. Once enamel is damaged, there is the usual minor pain with hot or cold foods and sweets. The worse the damage, the worse the pain. Without enamel protection, teeth can become permanently stained, appear jagged, look abnormal and develop cavities. First there are small cavi- ties that get bigger until there is damage through the tooth. Once there are holes in the tooth, the nerves are exposed and the pain can be severe. There is also a risk for infection and tooth abscess.
8 Ways to Protect Tooth Enamel 1. Brush and floss daily. 2. Use toothpaste with fluoride — a pea- size amount for a small child and more as kids get older.
Brush and
3. Visit the dentist every six months for a good cleaning and dental exam. Fluo- ride is applied to the teeth during early childhood. Older children and adults get enough fluoride from water treated with it. 4. Eliminate highly acidic foods and drinks from your diet. 5. If an acidic drink is necessary, use a straw so the acidic liquid won’t touch teeth. 6. Drink water throughout the day. 7. If you are snacking during the day, remember to rinse your mouth and/or to brush your teeth. 8. Chew sugar-free gum with xylitol. Xylitol prevents sugars from sticking to the teeth and decreases the risk of cavities. Severe enamel damage causes cavities, infection, abscess and, possibly, severe pain. When the damage cannot be fixed, your dentist might recommend tooth bonding or a crown to decrease damage to the tooth and make it look better. The best way to prevent extra visits to the dentist and added expense is to take care of the enamel that protects teeth. Having strong enamel will help keep teeth healthy for a long time.
Ann Petersen Smith, PhD, APRN, CPNP-PC, CPNP-AC, is an Assistant Professor at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus College of Nursing.
www.readysetgrowmag.com
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91 |
Page 92 |
Page 93 |
Page 94 |
Page 95 |
Page 96 |
Page 97 |
Page 98 |
Page 99 |
Page 100