Foods for Healthy Teeth

           Even if you brush your teeth twice a day and gargle with mouthwash you are only doing half of what it takes to keep a healthy smile.  Having a good smile needs more than just toothpaste. It is also about what you eat.  There are many satisfying foods that are beneficial to the health of your teeth.. Below are some tips to eat your way to a healthier smile.

Start out with inspecting how often you eat.  Are you a heavy snacker?  Studies show that people who snack frequently throughout the day are more vulnerable to cavities.  Why?  Eating often means new bacteria entering your mouth, causing potential cavities, leading to tooth decay.  Snack less often throughout the day to avoid this problem.  But if you just cannot peel yourself away from your daily snacks, perhaps take a look at what it is exactly you are consuming.     
       

There are several good food options to choose from first when it comes to snacking.  These foods will not only improve your teeth but overall health as well.  If you have a big sweet tooth and you must eat something sweet, turn away from candy.  Such things as hard candies are horrible for your teeth’s health.  They are chock full of sugars which harbor on your teeth.  Choose healthier options such as hard fruits.  Apples and pears are perfect examples of this.  These fruits are full of natural water which washes away their natural sugars from your teeth and also stimulate saliva flow which has the same effect.  Raw vegetables are also perfect for this same reason.  But not all fruits are necessarily good for your teeth’s health.  Bananas and dried fruits are ones that can cause cavities.  They are softer and full of more sugars. 

Recommended foods to improve your teeth’s health include cheese, celery, water, and yogurt.  These are also great snack options.  Water is always a great choice because it washes away any bacteria sticking to your teeth.  If you find that you need a little flavor try unsweetened tea or milk.  Leave the colas, sweet teas and lemonades in the fridge.  Other good food choices include nuts and meat.  These are full of calcium and phosphorus which re-mineralize teeth and helps to protect tooth enamel.  But what about chewing gum?  Chew away! Turns out gum stimulates saliva flow which helps to clean teeth and also helps to dislodge food particles from in between teeth.  There are also many brands of gum that contain anti-cavity ingredients.

Closely observe your eating habits from now on.  Stay away from those sugary snacks; eat plenty of raw vegetable and hard fruits.  Chew sugar free gun and drink plenty of water.  Next step, SMILE!

For more information on how to keep you teeth healthy, give Affleck Dental a call today!

CareCredit - Your Financial Opportunity

Medical expenses can be costly and a financial burden.  Loading up your credit card with life and medical expenses is a fast way to max it out.  Luckily there is another credit option specifically designed for medical expenses.  CareCredit is an alternate credit option designed to give you a credit line for your entire family’s health expenses, even your pets!

With CareCredit you are able to choose a 6, 12, 18, or 24-month plan.  These individual plans give you time to pay off your CareCredit card without incurring interest initially.  Of course a minimum monthly payment is required.  And, if your medical treatments are more costly, CareCredit also offers a variety of plans for that situation as well, to include a lengthier re-payment plan with a fixed, reduced interest rate. 

Designed for certain medical procedures not covered by insurance, CareCredit is good for use on Lasik/eye care, cosmetic surgeries, dental care, as well as hearing care.  You can also use your CareCredit to pay for procedures only partially covered by insurance.  Now with your CareCredit card, you can finally afford those healthcare procedures you have wanted or needed!

CareCredit is specifically designed to allow people the freedom to keep healthcare and household payments separate making it easy for you to better manage your medical expenses and keep interest rates low.  Unfortunately not all healthcare providers offer CareCredit.  But Affleck Dental proudly does!  Visit the CareCredit website at www.carecredit.com or call Affleck Dental at (801) 782-5010 for more information!