Did you know that nearly all adults (about 92 percent of them) ages 20 to 64 have cavities? That’s an alarming number! What you eat really does matter for many reasons, especially for your teeth. We all know by now that sugar is bad for your teeth and promotes tooth decay, but there are other foods that promote tooth decay. These might surprise you. Let’s take a look!

Sugar

Sugary candies are not great for your teeth. They coat your teeth in sugar and unless you brush it away, your teeth are literally swimming in it all day. The same goes for soda. A can of soda has an alarming amount of sugar in it. By drinking it, you are doing the same thing—coating your teeth in it. When sugar stays on your teeth for long periods of time, bacteria use the sugar as fuel. As the bacteria burn the sugar, they produce acids that wear away your tooth enamel, and the bacteria also form hardened plaque over time. Additionally, sodas, even diet sodas are acidic, and that acid also wears away your enamel. Dentists advise that if you have to have a soda, drink water afterwards to help rinse your teeth and mouth. The same is true of sports drinks. These beverages might sound healthy but they too have lots of sugars.

Sticky Foods

Some sticky foods like dried fruits are healthy, but they can wreak havoc on your teeth. All fruit has sugar, even when dried. Stickier fruits like apricots and dates can stay on your teeth and cause the same damage that sugar can. If you eat these foods, rinse or brush after your snack, and don’t forget to floss!

Crunchy foods

How can crunchy foods harm your teeth? They might seem fairly safe to eat, but crunchy foods do create some issues. For example, potato or tortilla chips are pure carbs which means they are filled with starch. When you eat chips, the saliva and chip mixture creates a starchy coating for your teeth. Again, they’re okay to enjoy, just rinse and brush afterwards.

Citrus
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Acids erode enamel and citrus fruits and drinks like lemonade can do damage over time. Enamel begins to erode and over time the erosion makes teeth more susceptible to decay. Rather than drinking straight lemonade or grapefruit juice, try water with a squeeze of lemon. You get that lemony goodness, but it’s mostly water you’re drinking, which is far better for your teeth in the long run.

We LOVE FOOTBALL! To celebrate the start of football season, we are having our BEST GIVEAWAY YET! Any new patient that schedules for a dental cleaning and exam between now and November 1, 2016 will automatically be entered in a drawing to win a new PLAYSTATION 4 with MADDEN 17!!! Call our office at (719) 550-1010 today to enter your child for this AWESOME PRIZE PACKAGE!!!!!

Our children's dental office is growing and expanding! We are looking to hire both a front office coordinator as well as a chairside dental assistant. If you believe you are the right match for our office, please fax your resume to (719) 550-1212, drop it off in-person Monday, Wednesday, or Friday, or email it to drderek@coolmountainkids.com. We can't wait to welcome YOU into our practice family!!!

It was certainly an exciting season to be a proud fan of our Denver Broncos! Our beloved quarterback and future hall of famer, Peyton Manning, battled serious injuries and doubts about his on-the-field abilities. However, we at Cool Mountain Kids never doubted "The Sheriff," and we are so proud he played his final game wearing the blue and orange of our Broncos. Thank you, Peyton, for your years of leadership. Thank you for helping our boys hoist the Lombardi trophy. Thank you for modeling fatherhood by bringing your young son into post-game conferences and showing us that a real man is above all a family man! May your ride into the sunset be smooth and sweet. We won't forget you!

We are proud members of Broncos Country, and the first Broncos playoff game is only a day away! While we cheer on our favorite team, we want to remind our awesome patients and families of the importance of wearing a well-fitting mouthguard while playing sports. A custom mouthguard is the absolute best option to ensure dental safety. If your child plays sports, give us a call today (550-1010.) We can make them an affordable and well-fitting custom mouthguard that will help ensure a lifetime of beautiful smiles! GO BRONCOS!!!