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It’s possible to develop tooth decay even when you take great care of your teeth. Brushing and flossing may not be enough to keep your teeth healthy, depending on your diet. Cavities, discoloration, and decay are still possible when certain foods feature in your daily intake. Keep an eye out for foods that will damage your enamel and cause the very issues you’ve been trying to avoid.

What causes enamel damage?

Tooth enamel is the hard outer layer of your teeth that is made of various minerals. Tooth decay results when the acids in your food react with the minerals in your enamel. Strongly pigmented foods may also cause unsightly discoloration on the surface of your teeth. Avoid wreaking havoc on your beautiful smile by identifying the foods that can harm your enamel.

Acid

Acidic food is your teeth’s worst nightmare! This is the greatest cause of enamel damage, even if you brush and floss regularly. To avoid damaging your teeth, make sure you can determine whether a food is acidic or not.

The pH levels are a way to determine acidity on a one-to-seven scale. This defines the relative acidity or alkalinity of a food or substance. Foods with high pH levels are not as likely to harm your enamel.

It’s wise to avoid or minimize foods that are high in acids. Highly acidic food can include fruits such as lemons, grapefruit, strawberries, grapes, and apples. Moderately acid foods may surprise you; they include tomatoes, maple syrup, pickles, and honey.

Not surprisingly, eggs and dairy products such as milk and cheese contain the least amount of acid. Red wine and coffee can also discolor your enamel if they’re drunk in excessive amounts.

What can I do to prevent enamel damage?

There are plenty of ways to avoid discoloration and decay of your enamel. The best thing to do is limit the amount of high-acid foods, including sugary juices and soda, in your diet.

Another way is to brush and floss regularly, an hour after each meal. If you can’t make time to brush, an easy solution is to swish your mouth with water or mouthwash to rinse away any leftover acidic particles.

Damaged tooth enamel may be common, but is avoidable when you know which foods to stay away from and the steps to take after you do eat highly acidic foods. Take our advice and you’ll be sure to slow down any future discoloration and decay that happens in your mouth.

For more advice on protecting your enamel, give our Phoenix, AZ a call to learn more!

At Jones + Foster Orthodontics, we are passionate about helping our patients achieve the smile they’ve always wanted. Many of our patients have questions and concerns about taking care of their braces and how their daily lives may be affected. We’re here to answer all of your burning questions and if you follow our advice, we promise living with your braces will be a piece of cake!

What can’t I eat?
We get this question a lot and always tell our patients to stay away from three main things: foods that are sticky, crunchy or hard. It’s best to save the popcorn and apples for when your braces come off. Unfortunately, these items can break or damage your braces which can cause you discomfort, require additional appointments and can even extend treatment times. If you need more guidance, you’ll receive a detailed list of foods to avoid at your appointment.

How should I care for my braces?
Brush and floss! Keeping up with your oral hygiene is the best thing you can do for your teeth, especially during orthodontic treatment. Waterpiks can also be really helpful to remove food particles in hard to reach areas.

How do I brush and floss with braces?
We would like you to brush ideally after every meal or at least three times a day. Oral-B or Sonicare toothbrushes do a great job of getting teeth clean compared to a regular toothbrush. As for flossing, we’ll provide you with Floss-Threaders and teach you how to use them.

What if I have discomfort or a piece of my braces breaks?
Don’t worry, a loose or broken bracket isn’t an emergency and we can fix it right up at your next appointment as long as we know about the damage ahead of time. If you have any discomfort, give our office a call! We also have an emergency line if you need to ask a question outside of normal business hours.

How can I help the success of my treatment?
We do the hard work for you in our office but we also need you to care for your braces at home! Keep up on your excellent hygiene routine and always wear your rubber bands when instructed. Not wearing elastics is often why orthodontic results don’t go according to plan, so it’s up to you to allow yourself to achieve the perfect results you desire!

What makes Jones + Foster unique?
We’ve built our reputation by delivering the highest clinical care to each of our patients. Not to mention, we’re Arizona’s highest rated and most awarded orthodontic office since 1972! We always have your best interest in mind and love helping our patients, one smile at a time.

Come see what makes us the Butterfly Team! We personally invite you for a complimentary initial consultation and you could be on your way to a greater smile!

We’ve been celebrating the new year for a really, really long time. It goes way back, but it started formally in 1582, when Pope George XIII made January 1^st the official holiday for ushering in the new year. The idea was to yell, cheer, and blow horns to scare away all the evil spirits of the previous year with the hope that the new one would be filled with happiness and opportunity.

While scaring away evil spirits isn’t what’s on our mind these days, we still ring in the New Year by cheering and hollering with friends and family. It’s a time to set new goals, refocus on old ones, and look forward to all the surprises the coming year will bring.

Whether you’re saying hello to the New Year snuggled up at home on your couch in the Phoenix, AZ area or by gathering your friends for a social celebration, here are some tips to help ensure you welcome this new chapter with a smile.

Tips for a great New Year’s Eve celebration from Clark Jones, DDS, MSD

• Stay safe. This one’s vital, because nothing puts a damper on your party like an emergency trip to the hospital. Stay responsible and try to plan ahead, whether that means taking a taxi, staying with a friend, or recruiting a designated driver. Do what you have to do to keep yourself and everyone around you safe.
• Spend time with the people you love most. The way we see it, the whole point of the holiday season is to cherish your family and friends. Regardless of what you’re doing, make sure there’s something for everyone. It’s essential to do something the whole group will enjoy!
• Smile! Whether you get all dressed to go out or have a quiet gathering with family and friends, make sure you accessorize with a smile. There’s always something to smile about!

We can all agree that change can be scary sometimes, but ringing in the New Year is an observance we all welcome with open arms. We hope you’ll enjoy this transitional holiday in a fun, healthy, and safe way. You have endless possibilities ahead of you!

From Dr. Jones, have a fantastic New Year!

Although using mouthwash is certainly not the equal of brushing and flossing, it does have benefits for your dental hygiene. If you use mouthwash regularly, you should find out which type is best suited for your needs. Here are some things to think about the next time you’re at the store.

The first item to weigh is why you want to use mouthwash. If the reason involves a high risk for cavities, you should focus on a mouthwash that contains fluoride. Make sure to double-check the label, because some mouthwashes do not necessarily include fluoride.

If you’re looking for a mouthwash to fight gingivitis, select an oral rinse with antibacterial properties. Make sure to read labels and avoid picking one that contains alcohol. Antibacterial mouthwash would also be best for a patient who has periodontal disease.

Another option is prescription mouthwash. These should be discussed with Dr. Jones and/or your pharmacist in order to avoid negative side effects. Pay close attention to the directions regarding how much to use and for how long. Keep in mind that some brands may lose their effectiveness if you use them on an ongoing basis.

For children, you can find a mouthwash that changes the color of plaque on their teeth. This is a fun way to help them understand how well they are brushing, and what areas they need to focus on. It can even be a tool for adults who have trouble reaching certain areas of their mouth.

While mouthwash is generally considered as a safe means to improve your oral health, you need to keep certain things in mind. Avoid using any mouthwash that has alcohol in it. If you are using a strong one, it can reduce your sense of taste over time. Be wary of a mouthwash that claims it can loosen plaque; this is not accurate and can mislead consumers.

We hope these simple suggestions will help you the next time you’re at the store. Make sure you pick the right mouthwash to keep that healthy smile! Feel free to contact Dr. Jones at our Phoenix, AZ with any questions you may have.