Chances are you’d correctly answer true to this statement: Brushing and flossing after a meal help prevent tooth decay.
You may even get an A in dental hygiene because you actually do that.
But what if you’re dining out? Sure, it’s OK to skip after-meal dental care every once in a while. The problem for most of us, however, is that eating away from home is a daily occurrence, especially if you count snacks or drinks in the car or at your desk.
It’s more than just thinking about flossing after breakfast, lunch and dinner. By some estimates, we eat 5.6 times a day. Here’s what’s happening. The combination of bacteria and food causes tooth decay. The clear, sticky substance called plaque that contains bacteria is always forming on teeth and gums. As the bacteria feed on the sugars in the food you eat, they produce acids. Those acids attack the teeth for 20 minutes or more after eating. Over a period of time, the acids destroy the tooth’s enamel coating, causing tooth decay.
So what should you do to protect your teeth from decay when you are away from home?
Here are some foods and drinks to help your teeth:
* Bottled or tap water? Dentists prefer tap water because most municipal sources contain the mineral fluoride. Fluoridated water strengthens tooth enamel. Most bottled waters do not contain fluoride.
* Milk for more reasons. Besides the calcium needed for building strong bones and teeth, milk (including chocolate milk) contains anti-bacterial compounds and the protein casein, which prevents cavity-causing bacteria from sticking to the tooth surface.
* Bring on the cheese cart. Eating cheese after meals or as a between-meal snack has an anti-bacterial effect and increases saliva flow, which dilutes cavity-causing acids. The protein, calcium and phosphorus in cheese may help strengthen tooth enamel.
* Citrus and strawberries forever. Vitamin C is the cement that holds our cells together, so foods rich in vitamin C are important for the health of gum tissue.
* Drink tea. Black and green tea contain antioxidants that prevent plaque from adhering to your teeth, lessening your chances of developing cavities and gum disease. The sweeter you like your tea, the less tooth-friendly it becomes
* Chocolate too? A study at Osaka University in Japan found that elements in chocolate thwart mouth bacteria and tooth decay.
* Grab some gum. Chewing sugar-free gum slows the growth of bacteria that cause tooth decay, stimulates saliva production and helps wash away food particles.