Dr. Mehmet Oz and Dr. Mike Roizen, authors of YOU: The Owner’s Manual offered up some tips for a healthier smile this week in their newspaper column.  Under the heading  Eat, drink and chew your way to a great smile… they included this advice:

1.  Say no to bottled water.  According to the doctors you’ll help keep plastic bottled out of landfills and help your teeth because tap water contains more fluoride than bottled.

2.  Munch on Apples and Celery.  Both of these healthy snacks contain substances that help fight gum disease.

3.  Eat Low Fat Yogurt.  Drs. Oz and Roizen say that it is good for your gums.  Researchers in Japan found that people who ate about 2 ounces of sugar-free yogurt each day were less likely to have severe periodontal disease than those who didn’t eat yogurt.

4.  Use a Straw.  The acid in juice, sports drinks and soda erodes tooth enamel.  The doctors suggest avoiding soda altogether since it does nothing good for your body.  Drinking sports drinks, orange, cranberry and other juices through a straw limits the tooth enamels direct exposure to the acid in the drinks.  They also suggest choosing cranberry juice when possible.  Chemical compounds in berries keep bacteria from sticking to teeth which helps avoid cavities and they also keep inflammation from gum disease in check.  Just pick diet cranberry to avoid the sugar overload that can give decay causing bacteria a boost.

Visiting your dental hygienist regularly, performing your brushing and flossing at home and following the dietary suggestions above can give you a beautiful healthy smile for life.  If you have questions or concerns about your periodontal health contact our Gahanna, Ohio office today at 614-476-6696 to discuss your treatment options.