Brushing up on good oral hygiene

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Eat smart and quit smoking
Diet and smoking cessation are important elements for healthy teeth and gums, says Dr. Burton Conrod, president of the Canadian Dental Association, who practises in Sydney, N.S. He suggests using Canada's Food Guide to Healthy Eating as a reference for foods that promote the health of soft gum tissue.

Here are some tips from Conrod:

• Try hard cheeses (such as cheddar) at snacktime. They help prevent plaque formation and don't contain sugar, so they're less likely to cause cavities than other snacks.

• Choose drinks and snacks that don't contain added sugar (for example, milk, apples, carrot and celery sticks, nuts, sunflower seeds, yogurt and melba toast) instead of cookies or cakes. Be sure to brush after drinking juices or milk because they contain natural sugars.

• Avoid hard candies. They contain sugar and remain in your mouth for a long time.

• Avoid caramels, toffees and fruit leathers -- which stick to teeth.

• If you chew gum, choose a sugar-free brand sweetened with xylitol, a natural sugar that doesn't break down in the mouth. Clinical trials have shown it to be antibacterial and helpful in fighting dental decay.

• Quit smoking. Smokers risk a fourfold increase of developing oral cancer than nonsmokers and are about four times more likely to develop periodontal disease. The toxic chemicals in cigarette tar cause the gums to break down and destroy periodontal tissues, which are fibres that hold teeth to the bone.

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