You know that what you eat has an impact on your oral health. For example, sugary food and drinks create acid, which mixes with bacteria in your mouth, leading to tooth decay and diminished enamel. There are also foods that help clean your teeth as you eat them. Read on to see what they are! 

Apples. 

Apples are incredibly fibrous, acting as a toothbrush as they clean plaque and food particles off of your teeth. The fiber is found in the skin of the apples, so make sure you leave it on! In addition, the acid in apples works to kill bacteria that cause bad breath, so next time you want to chew on a piece of gum, opt for an apple instead! 

Carrots. 

Carrots, like apples, are fibrous and clean your teeth as you eat them. Since carrots are hard and take little work to chew, they also stimulate saliva production. Saliva helps wash out bacteria in your mouth, creating a healthier and cleaner environment. In addition, carrots are an excellent source of Vitamin A. One serving provides almost 200% of your daily value, which means that a serving of carrots daily can aid in your vision, growth, immunity, gum, and enamel health! 

Spinach and Kale. 

Leafy greens, particularly spinach and kale, and low in calories and high in fiber. As with apples and carrots, the high fiber content helps clean your teeth as you eat, but these leafy greens are also chock-full of vitamins that can help your entire body. For example, kale has more vitamin C, vitamin K, and calcium than spinach, but spinach has more iron, vitamin A, vitamin E, zinc, and folate. Calcium strengthens teeth and enamel, while vitamin A supports gum and enamel health. 

These fruits and vegetables can be found at any grocery store, or farmer’s market year-round and are full of so many nutrients that it would be a shame to pass them up! Try to incorporate these into your daily meals, and you should notice improvements in your health and teeth. If you have any questions about this or any other suggestions we make, give us a call. At Cakmes Dental Studio, we love teaching our patients tricks of the trade to keep a healthy mouth. Fortunately, eating fruits and veggies like these is almost too easy!

The emergence of your baby’s first tooth is a huge milestone. While it’s a big event in your baby’s life, it can be very uncomfortable him or her. The more you understand this phase and what you can expect, the more you help you are able to provide for your baby.

What can you expect during the teething process?

Many babies begin teething between 4 and 7 months. For some babies, it can happen at a much later stage.

Usually, the first tooth to emerge is one of the lower, central incisors. Some kids have a pattern of serial eruption while there are also those who experience multiple dental eruptions at the same time. 

Some teeth can be more sensitive when they erupt. The larger molars are usually the ones that cause a significant amount of discomfort due to their larger surface area. They simply can’t ‘slice’ through the gum tissue as what erupting incisors can do.

Although the symptoms of teething could vary from one baby to another, many babies who are teething experience the following:

• Tender and swollen gums
• Fussiness
• Gnawing or wanting to chew on things
• Lots of drooling
• Changes in sleeping and/or eating patterns
• A slightly elevated temperature

What can you do when your baby’s teething?

If your baby seems uncomfortable with his/her teething, you can do the following to soothe his/her gums:

• Rub your baby’s gums
  With the use of your clean finger or moistened gauze pad, you can relieve the discomfort from sore gums. 
• Keep it cool
  Whether it’s a cold washcloth or chilled (not frozen) teething ring, anything that’s ‘cool’ can be soothing to your baby’s gums. 
• Try hard foods
  If your baby is already eating solid food, try offering something edible such as slices of cucumber for gnawing. Keep an eye on your baby as any piece may break off and pose a choking hazard. 
• Use pain medicines
  Make sure to consult your healthcare provider before giving any medicine to your baby. Over-the-counter pain meds such as acetaminophen could help but they could also mask symptoms that are important to know.

If you have other concerns regarding your child’s teething, you can call us. At Cakmes Dental Studio, we have a team who can help you. We take pride in providing the best dental care for our patients.

To schedule an appointment, you can call us (865) 584-6163.

References:

https://www.webmd.com/parenting/baby/teething-symptoms-remedies#1

https://www.emedicinehealth.com/teething/article_em.htm#what_are_teething_symptoms_and_signs

https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/infant-and-toddler-health/in-depth/teething/art-20046378