You want to keep your teeth as healthy as possible, so you try to do everything right. You see your dentist twice a year. You brush your teeth twice a day and floss after every meal. Unfortunately, your dentist is still finding cavities and signs of gum disease. Here are a few surprising habits that could be sabotaging your dental health.

Snacking On Carbs

Those carbs that you snack on could be getting stuck between your teeth, creating a sticky mess that can cause cavities. Carbs break down into a simple sugar that can eat away at your teeth. When you eat small snacks, your mouth doesn't generate enough saliva to wash the sugars away. Try leaving the carbs for your main meals, when your mouth will be able to make enough saliva to get rid of the sugars.

Brushing Right After Soda

You've been told to brush your teeth whenever you eat or drink something. Unfortunately, if you're brushing right after you drink a soda, you may be doing more harm than good. Try chewing a piece of gum before you brush your teeth. This activates your salivary glands, which will neutralize the acidity in the soda you just drank. Once you're done chewing the gum, spit it out and brush your teeth.

Limiting The C

You've probably heard that vitamin C can help fight off the common cold. However, it can also help fight off gum disease. Research has shown that increasing your daily intake of vitamin C to about 500 mg can even make periodontal gum disease improve. To keep your teeth and gums healthy, add a glass of orange juice to your daily diet. Don't like orange juice? Add a daily supplement to your diet. You can find vitamin C supplements in the vitamin department of your favorite grocery store. Whether you've already been diagnosed with gum disease or you want to prevent it, increasing your vitamin C intake can help.

Shying Away From Whole Grains

If your diet is low on whole grains, you could be providing an open invitation for gum disease. You don't have to overhaul your entire diet. Simply add a serving of whole grains to your daily intake of foods. Try whole wheat pasta instead of regular pasta once a week. You can even switch from white bread to whole wheat bread and up your daily intake of whole grains.

You don't have to deal with cavities or gum disease. Just by changing a few of your daily habits, you can have healthy teeth and gums. Visit a dentist office, such as Neu Family Dental Center, for more information about what might be causing your dental problems. 

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