Regardless of how much a person may brush and floss his or her teeth, there are some people who continue to have cavities each time they visit the dentist.
While proper dental hygiene is extremely important, a person's diet dramatically affects how well his or her teeth hold up against plaque.
Changing just a few aspects of a diet can help teeth stay stronger and less cavity prone.
No matter how healthy a meal is, food immediately begins to break down the enamel on teeth.
This is why it's important to brush after each meal.
However, if there is no toothbrush available, chewing sugarless gum with xylitol can help clean off the teeth.
Additionally, drinking a large glass of water after each meal can also help to wash the excess food off teeth.
While most dietitians have found that eating small meals all day is healthy for the body, dentists have found that it is not good for the mouth.
Eating all day helps harbor constant bacteria in the mouth that breaks down the enamel on teeth.
However, most people have a difficult time avoiding snacking all together.
In order to reduce the amount of damage done to teeth when snacking, pair acidic foods with more neutral foods to keep the acid levels down.
A dentist in Scotch Plains NJ might suggest that drinking out of a straw can help save teeth when consuming sugary beverages.
While sipping on sugary drinks all day will certainly damage teeth and lead to cavities, drinking out of a straw can help avoid teeth to beverage contact.