Did You Know Your Mouth Has Enemies?

There have been a number of famous rivalries over the years, like Batman versus the Joker, McDonald’s versus Burger King, and Coke versus Pepsi. Did you know that your teeth also have rivals? Our goal is to keep your teeth as healthy as possible, but since we see you so infrequently during the year, the majority of the responsibility lies on your shoulders. There are quite a few enemies to your oral health that are constantly lurking, waiting to cause a problem. Do you know what is trying to cause damage to your teeth and oral health? Continue reading to see if you are correct!

Enemies of the Mouth

You can probably name a number of rivalries in pop culture, sports, history, movies, and books, but can you think of something that is out to destroy your oral health? Unfortunately, we only see you for routine oral hygiene examinations and if you need a treatment, so you are responsible for your oral care during most of the year. There are certain enemies of the mouth that are waiting to cause destruction. They are:

Plaque
When you wake in the morning and feel a film on your teeth, that is plaque. Plaque is made up of bacteria that remain on your teeth after eating and drinking. It can be easily removed with thorough brushing and flossing, but if it is not removed, it will transform into tartar and cause issues like tooth decay and gum disease.

Sugary and Acidic Foods
For years, you have learned about how sugar is bad for your teeth. Sugar that lingers on teeth will become acid that will begin to eat away at the tooth enamel. Acidic foods lead to the same results as sugar. There are many healthy foods that are acidic and can cause damage to teeth, such as citrus fruits, blueberries, and pineapple. Of course they are healthy to eat, and we encourage you to include these foods in your diet. However, it is important to brush thoroughly after eating them.

If you need a hygiene examination or think that the enemies of the mouth have succeeded in negatively affecting your oral health, be sure to contact our office located in Terre Haute, IN to schedule an appointment. We want to help you get your oral health back on track! See you soon!