Practicing good oral hygiene will help you avoid dental problems for a lifetime. Brushing, flossing, and making regular visits to West County Dental of St. Louis can prevent gum disease and tooth decay. However, good hygiene practices may not mean as much if you don’t eat a mouth-healthy diet. The foods and beverages you consume greatly impact the health of your teeth and gums. To keep your smile strong, keep these diet suggestions in mind:

Focus on Fresh Produce

Dr. Spalitto of West County Dental stresses the importance of eating fruits, vegetables, and other foods that are beneficial for healthy teeth and gums. Many fruits and vegetables are fibrous, which helps with the natural cleaning of oral contaminants. Vegetables typically have low sugar content as well, which limits the ability of bacteria to create plaque. In addition, produce is dense in nutrients, and can provide a wealth of vitamins and minerals that fortify tooth and gum health.

Include Calcium-Rich Products

The bone that supports your teeth is made largely of calcium. This substance helps teeth retain a strong and rigid structure, which is necessary for chewing and eating. Consuming plenty of calcium-rich products—including low fat milk, yogurt, and cheese—can provide ample amounts of calcium to support your oral health.

Restrict Sweet Beverages

Many people know that residual food particles can get stuck between teeth, hastening the development of plaque and gum disease. As a result, they might wash down their meals with a large cup of cola, fruit juice, or sweetened tea in the hopes of dislodging food remnants and lowering the risk of cavities. Unfortunately, sugary beverages only heighten the danger of tooth decay. If you normally drink soda, juice, or another sugar-laden drink, that could be the reason for your dental issues. Instead, make water your beverage of choice. This single change to your diet could dramatically reduce tooth decay and improve your general wellbeing.

Home dental care is crucial for preventing cavities and gum disease. As this video explains, seeing a dentist is an equally important part of oral health. Dr. Spalitto of West County Dental is an excellent St. Louis dentist with more than a decade of experience.

While brushing and flossing reduce the formation of plaque, they don’t entirely prevent the buildup of this harmful substance. Once plaque hardens into tartar, the only way to remove it is via a professional teeth cleaning. Dental exams can also reveal the presence of tooth decay and periodontal disease, which can cause extensive tooth and gum damage. Dr. Spalitto can also detect the warning signs of oral cancer—a life-threatening condition. For the sake of your oral health, make it a priority to visit West County Dental at least twice each year.

Dr. Spalitto’s primary goal is to brighten your smile. Unfortunately, tooth decay can seriously compromise this goal. Advanced tooth decay may require a root canal, which is a routine procedure addressing cavities that reach the tooth’s interior. As invaluable as root canals are to dental health, many people misunderstand the procedure’s place in professional dental care. Recognizing the necessity and benefits of a root canal can help you better understand this type of treatment.

Myth: Root Canals Damage Teeth

When Dr. Spalitto performs a root canal, he creates a small hole that reaches the inside of the tooth. Through this hole, he can extract infected tissues from the tooth interior. While this hole may very slightly compromise the overall strength of the tooth, an untreated infection can cause considerably more damage. If an infection is left to fester, it will affect not only your tooth, but also the surrounding gum tissue and bone. Root canals both stop infections and preserve the integrity of teeth.

Myth: Tooth Infections Can Heal Without Root Canals

Doctors often prescribe antibiotics to eliminate infections in the body. Once bacteria reach the interior of a tooth, however, affected tissues will continue to decay until Dr. Spalitto manually extracts them. During root canal therapy, Dr. Spalitto might introduce medication that can kill lingering bacteria, but the only way to fully address a tooth infection—short of tooth extraction, that is—is through a root canal.

Myth: Root Canals Hurt

Severe procedural pain is perhaps one of the most prevalent misconceptions about root canals. In fact, a root canal is a minimally invasive procedure that is more comfortable than you might imagine. Dr. Spalitto always has the comfort of his patients in mind when providing treatment; if you require a root canal, Dr. Spalitto will administer pain relief agents to block discomfort during the procedure. If you normally experience dental anxiety, he can also offer sedation dentistry services to relax you as you undergo treatment. This will allow you to get the care you need without pain or stress.