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Don't Let Dieting Impact Your Oral Health

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Don't Let Dieting Impact Your Oral Health

Like many people who need to lose a few pounds, I try diet after diet in an attempt to find one that finally works for me. I learned the hard way that I need to make sure any diet will not harm my teeth, even if it does help me lose a few pounds. I learned this lesson when following a grapefruit diet. There are many versions of this, but the version I tried had me eat a grapefruit alone several times each day. It was supposed to suppress my appetite. I helped keep me from munching on unhealthy snacks, but the acid in the fruit took a toll on my tooth enamel and I quickly started getting lots of cavities. I created this blog to remind people that change up their diets often to make sure the foods they are eating are not harming their teeth.

Helping Your Child Have Nice-Looking Teeth

14 April 2015
 Categories: Dentist, Blog

If your school-aged child has stains or discoloration on their teeth, you should get them in to the dentist. There are a few different reasons why they may be experiencing this discoloration, and you want to get to the bottom of it as soon as possible so your child can begin any necessary treatment. Read the information below to have a better understanding of what may be causing the issue and how you can help.

Staining from eating the wrong foods

Eating certain foods can cause teeth to become stained. If this is happening to your child, you want to catch it early so you can remove these foods from their diet. Some of the foods known to cause teeth-staining include grape juice, soda, tea, sports drinks, berries, popsicles and any artificially colored food such as candy. One thing to remember is if a food causes your child's tongue to turn a different color, then the possibility of that food staining their teeth is high. Convince your child to stay away from these foods.

Spots from the start of decay

If you notice that your child has spots on their teeth, this can indicate that their teeth are starting to decay. The color of the spots can range from white to light brown and even black. It's very important that you get your child in to see the dentist right away before their teeth decay even more. This will make treatment more difficult and can lead to them experiencing pain.

Yellow or brownish colored teeth

Some children are born with a dental disorder that causes their teeth to have less enamel on them than they should. If you notice your child's teeth are a yellow or brownish color, you want to bring this up with the dentist. There may be something the dentist can do to help strengthen their teeth, such as prescribe a fluoride treatment. If your child is going to need treatment such as veneers, they will have to wait until their permanent teeth have completely come in. This generally happens when they are in their early teens.

When you watch for warning signs and teach your child what foods to stay away from, you can help them to keep their teeth looking better for a longer period of time. This will help them to feel better about the way they look, which can play an important role in the self-esteem of a school aged child. For more information, speak with experts like Children's Dental Center Of Central Iowa PLC.