How Sugar Hurts the Teeth

If you want to keep your permanent teeth for a lifetime, then it’s time to throw the energy drinks, fruit juices, and soda in the trash. Sugar feeds on the bacteria in the mouth and provides no nutritional benefits for tooth enamel. Once tooth enamel is gone, Dr. Dipika Shah, DDS cannot restore it. Instead, she will need to explore cosmetic options, such as fillings and dental bonding to restore the tooth.

Soft drinks, diet soft drinks, and sports energy drinks contain high levels of sugar and/or acid that promote tooth decay. Fruit juices contain sugar and acid. To promote a healthy smile, Dr. Dipika Shah, DDS encourages patients to drink more water and milk. Water cleans the mouth with every sip, while milk contains calcium to to strenghen your bone.

If you have questions or concerns regarding diet and dental health, please give us a call. To learn more about the services we provide at the practice, visit www.dentistnj.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Dipika Shah, DDS, here in our Holmdel, NJ office, call 732-264-8180. 

Foods That Promote a Healthy Smile

Dr. Dipika Shah, DDS is an advocate when it comes to helping patients improve their dental health and a healthy smile begins with a nutritious diet. Foods that contain sugars or acid of any kind can contribute to tooth decay, so it’s important to know what foods you should be eating and what foods should be consumed only once in a while. More than 40% of children will develop dental cavities by the time they reach kindergarten and approximately 5% of adults (ages 20-64) fall victim to tooth decay, but the good news is that it’s preventable.

If you exercise rigorously but consume unhealthy foods, you likely won’t notice any positive changes. The same goes for brushing your teeth. Regular brushing and flossing keep teeth healthy by eliminating sugars and food particles that link up with bacteria to form plaque. Plaque is the leading cause of tooth decay, so to help control the amount of sugar you eat, read food labels and make choices that are low in added sugars.  To promote a healthy smile, drink plenty of water, avoid soda, juice, sports drinks and eat a variety of foods from the five major food groups, such as whole grains, fruits, vegetables, and fat-free dairy foods.

If you have questions or concerns about the status of your oral health, please give us a call. To learn about the services we provide at our practice, visit www.dentistnj.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Dipika Shah, DDS in our Holmdel, NJ office, call 732-264-8180.