You have probably noticed a growing trend for toothpastes that focus on one particular aspect of oral health care.<\/p>\n
These may include gum disease, teeth whitening and now enamel erosion. Often, these seem to offer a quick solution for common dental problems, but do the claims always stand up?<\/p>\n
Most of us probably know toothpaste as just toothpaste. Providing that it is a reliable brand and contains fluoride, it will probably do a fairly good job of keeping your teeth clean and in reasonable health. Cleaning our teeth is just a part of the solution though, and although some enamel erosion toothpastes may offer some additional protection for our Epsom patients, the reality is that tooth erosion can be caused by a combination of factors and is not so easy to protect against simply through brushing alone.<\/p>\n
Acidic diet<\/strong><\/p>\n The fact is that our western diet is becoming increasingly acidic. High sugar consumption plays a significant role in this, though it is hoped that the newly introduced sugar tax will help to reduce this over time. Whether sugar consumption ever falls to an acceptable level, only time will tell, but any reduction has to be a good thing.<\/p>\n What then, can patients of The Clock Tower Dental Clinic<\/a> do to help prevent enamel erosion?<\/p>\n Reduce sugar consumption<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n The most obvious thing that we can do is to cut down on the quantity of sugar that we consume. This will be beneficial for our general health, especially in the reduction of obesity, as well as for our teeth.<\/p>\n Be careful with acidic fruit<\/strong><\/p>\n Fruits are good, but be careful about how much acidic fruit, such as oranges or lemons, you eat. Remember that this includes fruit drinks too. Try to use a straw to reduce the amount of contact the acids have with your teeth.<\/p>\n Don\u2019t snack<\/strong><\/p>\n When we eat, acid bi-products will affect our teeth, so allowing our teeth to recover before eating again is important. Unfortunately our \u2018snacking habit\u2019 often doesn\u2019t allow our teeth time to remineralise before we eat again, hence why we recommend avoiding snacking in between meals.<\/p>\n Brush correctly<\/strong><\/p>\n Brushing twice a day is good start, but doing so correctly is even better. Don\u2019t use a worn out toothbrush and make sure that your toothpaste contains fluoride as this will help to strengthen the enamel on your teeth. Don\u2019t brush your teeth immediately after eating as the enamel will be softer at this point, and allow at least half an hour for it to harden again before brushing.<\/p>\n