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Your Recipe For Dental Health
We all know that a well-balanced diet is an important element in the development of healthy teeth and bones. We recognize the importance of ensuring that our children get the recommended daily number of servings of milk, cheese and other good calcium sources, but lets not forget that our own, grown-up nutritional balance is an ongoing requirement as well. You may be surprised to learn that teeth are “alive,” and that in order to keep them healthy you need to maintain a well-balanced diet, including potassium, phosphorous, vitamin D and calcium.
The best dietary sources for vitamin D and calcium are dairy products such as milk, yogurt and cheese, while potassium and phosphorous can be found naturally in fruits and vegetables. Of course, healthy teeth arent much good if they are held in place by bad gums. Thats why its important to ensure that your diet includes enough vitamin B and C to help keep gum disease away. Studies have shown that nutrient intake reduces in quality with fewer teeth. In other words, a full set of healthy teeth ensures that you are able to chew and consume all of the nutritious foods you need, ensuring continued good oral and general health.
The dependent relationship between our nutrition and oral well-being is irrefutable. To keep up your overall health, aim for well-balanced meals with selections from each of the five major food groups breads, cereals or other grains; fruits; vegetables; meat, fish, poultry or protein alternatives; milk, yogurt or cheese. Its not too late to help preserve and protect your teeth and gums by supplementing your diet with dairy or calcium-fortified products, as well as fresh fruits, vegetables and whole grains. Not only will your gums and teeth remain healthy, but your overall health is sure to benefit as well.
Dental Emergencies
Knowing what to do in a dental emergency could make the difference between saving or losing a tooth. Here are some important tips everyone in your household should be aware of. When a tooth is knocked right out, it is vital that we start treating the injury within 30 minutes in order to have a chance at saving it. You should 1. Find the tooth, hold it by the crown (the chewing surface) and gently rinse off the root of the crown with water if its dirty. Do not scrub it or remove any attached tissue fragments. 2. If possible, carefully place the tooth back in its socket, and hold it in place with your fingers or by gently biting down on it. Alternatively, you can store the tooth in your mouth, between the cheek and the gum. If this is not possible, for instance in the case of a young child, immerse the tooth in milk and transport it with you to the dentist. 3. Call immediately for an emergency appointment.
If a tooth is knocked loose, the immediate procedure is very similar guide the tooth back into its proper place with your finger, and call immediately. Like a knocked-out tooth, a tooth that has been pushed out of place must be seen by a dentist within 30 minutes to have the best chance of recovery.
Treatment of a fractured tooth isnt as clean-cut as the above, as it all depends on how badly the tooth is broken. Regardless of the damage, your best bet is to call a dentist for an evaluation as soon as possible. Remember many types of tooth and mouth injuries are avoidable simply by wearing a properly fitted mouth guard. Ask about the right protective dental equipment for the athletes in your active household.
