Eating a variety of nutritious food is good for your overall health, including your oral health. Some vitamins in particular have demonstrated benefits to building healthy teeth, namely calcium and vitamin C, so be sure to include foods rich in these nutrients in your diet. Calcium has been shown to help build strong teeth, and vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant that also plays an important role in collagen synthesis, by which it helps you develop and maintain healthy gums.

• Calcium: Dairy products, including milk, yogurt and cheese are good sources of calcium. Many physicians recommend 1,200mg to 1,500mg of calcium daily for most adults, so you may want to consider a calcium supplement, especially if dairy products aren’t a regular part of your diet. Also, try switching to low-sugar or sugar-free varieties of yogurt, since sugar (and bacteria) can promote tooth decay.
• Vitamin C: Many fruits and vegetables including berries, oranges and cantaloupe, as well as green vegetables including broccoli and spinach are excellent sources of vitamin C.

Of course, in addition to eating right, it’s important to follow a consistent dental care routine of twice-daily tooth brushing and daily flossing to promote oral health. And be sure to see one of our dentist regularly and talk to them if you have questions about how your diet might affect your oral health. Good dental health begins with you. By following this simple routine, you can keep your mouth clean and healthy:

• Brush your teeth for two minutes twice a day using fluoride toothpaste.
• Use a small to medium size toothbrush.
• Use a toothbrush with soft to medium multi-tufted, round-ended nylon bristles.
• Use small circular movements to clean your teeth.
• Change your toothbrush regularly, every 3 months or earlier if the filaments are worn.
• Clean between your teeth using interdental brushes, dental floss or dental tape.
• Have sugary drinks and foods less often.
• Visit your dentist regularly, as often as they recommend.

Visit your dentist or hygienist if you have any of the symptoms of gum disease. These can include:

• inflammation of the gums, causing them to be red, swollen and to bleed easily, especially when brushing
• an unpleasant taste in your mouth
• Bad breath
• loose teeth
• regular mouth infections.

Pregnant women who have gum disease may be over three times more likely to have a baby that is premature and so has a low birth weight. There is a one-in-four chance that a pregnant woman with gum disease will give birth before 35 weeks. It seems that gum disease raises the levels of the chemicals that bring on labour. Research also suggests that women whose gum disease gets worse during pregnancy have an even higher risk of having a premature baby. Having gum disease treated properly during pregnancy can reduce the risk of a premature birth.

How could diabetes affect my dental health?

People with diabetes are more likely to have gum disease than people without it. This is probably because diabetics are more likely to get infections in general. People who do not know they have diabetes, or whose diabetes is not under control, are especially at risk. If you do have diabetes it is important that any gum disease is diagnosed, because it can increase your blood sugar. This would put you at risk of diabetic complications. Also, if you are diabetic, you may find that you heal more slowly. If you have a problem with your gums, or have problems after visits to your dentist, discuss this with your dentist before you have any treatment. New research has also shown that you are more likely to develop diabetes if you have gum disease. If you have diabetes, you have an increased risk of losing teeth.

What is the link between gum disease and strokes?

Several studies have looked at the connection between mouth infections and strokes. They have found that people who have had a stroke are more likely to have gum disease than people who have not had one. When the bacteria that cause gum disease get into the bloodstream, they produce a protein. This can cause inflammation of the blood vessels, and this can block the blood supply to the brain. This can cause a stroke.

Brushing removes plaque and food particles from the inner, outer and biting surfaces of your teeth.
Here is one method of removing plaque:

• Place the head of your toothbrush against your teeth, then tilt the bristle tips to a 45 degree angle against the gumline.
• Move the brush in small circular movements, several times, on all the surfaces of every tooth.
• Brush the outer surfaces of each tooth, upper and lower, keeping the bristles angled against the gumline.
• Use the same method on the inside surfaces of all your teeth.
• Brush the biting surfaces of the teeth.
• To clean the inside surfaces of the front teeth, tilt the brush vertically and make several small circular strokes with the front part of the brush.
• Brushing your tongue will help freshen your breath and will clean your mouth by removing bacteria.