Spring clean your dental hygiene supplies by tossing worn out toothbrushes and invest in some new items for your dental care tool kit. Make them accessible and attractive by placing them within easy reach, like in a small basket or caddy. Here's what to include: a fresh toothbrush and toothpaste, floss, dental rinse, tongue scraper and lip balm. A few whitening strips and sugar free gum are also nice to have on hand.
Next, consider other changes that you can make to ensure that you keep your teeth and gums healthy and looking their best. In doing so, you'll also have fresher breath! There are five types of food that dental professionals have identified as those most likely to wreak havoc on your pearly whites.
Here are the ones to avoid:
- Sugary foods - They ALL promote tooth decay, from candy, cookies, cake and pie to soft drinks and sweet tea.
- Starchy foods - Also known as "carbs", these are also referred to as "white" foods: bread, potato chips, crackers, cereal, white rice, pasta and pretzels. They are bad because they break down into sugar.
- Acidic foods - These choices are unhealthy because they contain acids which wear down tooth enamel. The ones to watch out for are: citrus fruits, sugary drinks, fruit juice, tomato sauce and soup.
- Sticky foods - These are most often sweet things like candy and cookies. Their stickiness makes it easy for them to adhere to the teeth and promote tooth decay.
- Hard foods - Many crunchy snack foods and other things such as bones and ice cubes are not good for the teeth and can cause them to crack and chip. The ones to be aware of are unpopped popcorn kernels, some nuts in the shell, hard candy and lollipops.
Of course it is almost impossible to avoid harmful foods all the time. That is why brushing at least twice a day with a fluoride toothpaste is so important!
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