This dentist is revealing the tooth for oral hygiene.
Dr. Alex Foo says it takes more than brushing and flossing twice a day to keep your teeth healthy.
To prevent tooth decay, the award-winning dentist says it’s essential to give your teeth a break after lunch. A two-hour food embargo after a midday meal can help strengthen teeth and prevent decay.
“Allowing saliva to naturally clean and remineralize your teeth for at least two hours after a meal can greatly reduce the risk of cavities and enamel erosion,” said Dr. Foo for Express.
The dentist explained that, after lunch, the pH of our saliva increases, “which makes it more effective at protecting your teeth by helping to remineralize the enamel.”
Dr. Foo says the food we eat at lunch affects the quality of our saliva for the rest of the day, and healthy choices make for a happy mouth.
“A salad or other healthy options can promote better oral health,” the doctor said.
The advice of Dr. Foo is echoed by Whitney DiFoggio, a registered dental hygienist, who previously told The Post that those who want to keep their pearly whites bright should avoid fermentable carbohydrates at meals — think: white bread , pasta, chips, cereal and cookies.
“The reason fermentable carbohydrates are so bad for teeth is because they break down into sugars while they’re still being chewed in your mouth,” she explained, calling them “dirty sugars.”
She notes that those specific carbohydrates make the mouth more acidic because saliva works overtime to remove food from the teeth, which “increases the chance of tooth decay.”
DiFoggio claims that foods that “require heavier biting and chewing,” such as crunchy vegetables like carrots and celery, are generally better for your dental and overall health.
Meanwhile, Dr. Foo also recommends chewing gum, saying that “using a little xylitol after lunch can also help stimulate beneficial saliva production.”
Xylitol, a natural sweetener found in plants and commonly used in chewing gum, is seen as a healthier sugar-free option than aspartame-sweetened gums.
Foo’s lunch tip comes as UK dental surgeon Shaadi Manouchehri revealed her controversial breakfast and brushing routine. To maintain Maya’s oral hygiene, she brushes her teeth before breakfast.
“If you’re doing it the other way around, you can damage your teeth and gums and you’re more likely to get cavities because overnight, the bacteria in your mouth will multiply,” she explained. “If you eat right away, it will be really harmful, so you have to wash beforehand.”
Brushing before breakfast also protects teeth from harmful acids in food and drink and ensures fresh breath to start the day.
If you choose to brush after breakfast, wait 30 minutes to give your enamel time to re-mineralize and harden after exposure to acidic foods. You can drink water to start this process.
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Image Source : nypost.com