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Healthy teeth make you happy to share your smile with the world. But there’s more to your smile than its beauty! There’s a lot of hard work going on, too.

Teeth Are Designed for Healthy Eating

Humans are omnivores, which means we can eat both meat and plants. That’s why our teeth have different shapes—they’re designed to help us eat different kinds of food. 

• Incisors, our front teeth, have sharper edges to help cut through meats and other harder foods when we bite.
• Canines, the pointed teeth, help tear food into bite-size bits.
• Premolars are flat topped and have two cusps, or raised points, which help grind food. 
• Molars are the flat-topped teeth in the back of the mouth. They have four cusps to grind and crush food into a paste. 

So: Incisors and canines bite and tear food into smaller pieces, and then molars and premolars crush and grind those pieces into a paste. Bite, tear, crush, grind—that’s a lot of work! But it’s the key to healthy digestion. 

Chewing is the first step in digestion. Digestion means breaking down our food into parts which our bodies can use as fuel to grow. When you chew your food well, it’s easier for your body to break that food down, to swallow it, and to get the proteins, vitamins, and minerals in your healthy diet. 

But when your teeth hurt, it’s hard to chew food well, which makes digestion harder and sometimes uncomfortable. To get the most from your healthy diet, you need healthy teeth!

Teeth Have Other Important Jobs, Too

• They Help Us Speak

Our teeth work with our tongues and lips to form many of the sounds which make up speech. Try saying the word “teeth,” and see how your tongue and teeth work together!

• They Help Shape Our Faces

Our teeth look great in smiles. But there’s more! Your teeth and the way they fit together in your jaw help shape the look of your chin, lips, cheeks, and the front and sides of your face. 

• They Help Make a Healthy Bite

Our teeth and jaws are designed to work together. When something’s not lined up just right, that’s called a malocclusion, or bad bite, and can cause problems with eating, speaking, and self-confidence. Your dentist might recommend orthodontic treatment to help your teeth and jaws look their best and work their best. 

Teeth Can Only Work Their Best with Your Help

You’re in charge! 

• Brush twice and floss at least once every day to clean away plaque and food particles from your teeth. This helps to protect them from cavities. 
• Eat a healthy diet to give you the vitamins and minerals which keep your teeth strong.
• Make sure you wear mouth protection when you play sports or do activities where you may fall, or collide with another person, or be hit with equipment like balls, bats, and pucks.   
• See your dentist regularly for exams and cleanings.

Talk to your pediatric dentist to learn more about how to help your teeth work their best for you—and be ready to share that beautiful smile!

Sports and energy drinks cause irreversible damage to the teeth of teens and young adults. A recent study published in General Dentistry states that energy and sports drinks contain so much acid that they begin destroying teeth after only five days of consistent use. According to the Academy of General Dentistry, an estimated 30 percent to 50 percent of U.S. teenagers consume energy drinks and as many as 62 percent consume at least one sports drink per day. The high acidity levels in the drinks erode tooth enamel and the result is irreversible damage.

Dr. Parulkar and our team at Delaware Pediatric Dentistry encourage our patients to limit their intake of sports drinks. The enamel erosion ultimately makes teeth more susceptible to bacteria and that can lead to hypersensitivity, staining, and tooth decay. If you do consume an energy or sports drink, make sure to wait at least 45 minutes until you brush, as consumption of acidic drinks causes tooth enamel to soften, making teeth more vulnerable to wear from the abrasives found in toothpaste.

Tooth decay is the most common chronic childhood disease, five times more common than asthma. It’s also preventable with proper care. Dr. Parulkar and our team can help identify early signs of erosion and offer solutions on how to prevent further damage and more serious problems from occurring.

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. Parulkar 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. Parulkar at our Lewis Center, OH with any questions you may have.

At Delaware Pediatric Dentistry, we prefer our patients to practice good oral hygiene between office visits. Part of that process includes flossing, which Dr. Parulkar will tell you, is the process of cleaning between the teeth to remove food and debris from the areas that are hard to reach with a toothbrush. When food is allowed to remain between the teeth, it provides a breeding ground for bacteria, which can cause periodontal disease.

Should you floss before or after brushing?

You can floss either before or after brushing, according to your own preference. By flossing first, you can brush away dislodged food debris afterward. On the other hand, brushing first allows you to loosen plaque between the teeth, making it easier to floss more effectively.

Whichever you choose, the most important goal is to floss thoroughly. That means using a fresh strand of dental floss each day, and carefully pulling it back and forth between all of the teeth. Do not skip flossing because your teeth look or feel clean.

When to Floss

Unlike brushing, you need only floss between your teeth once per day. Although you may choose to do it in the morning or afternoon, many prefer to floss at night to prevent food and debris from remaining in the crevices of the teeth overnight. This could prevent the build-up of plaque too, which is a cause of tooth decay.

Help with Flossing

If you have questions about your flossing technique or what type of floss is best for your teeth, contact our office. Our staff will be more than happy to assist you in perfecting your home hygiene regimen. In most cases, you can choose between interdental cleaning picks or flexible floss strands to perform your daily flossing routine. If you have permanent oral appliances or restorations, be sure to follow the flossing instructions provided to you, and contact our Lewis Center, OH office with any questions.