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    Call Today888-469-3982 Request an Appointment
    819 Mt. Tabor Road, New Albany, IN 47150
    Call Today888-469-3982 Request an Appointment
    819 Mt. Tabor Road, New Albany, IN 47150
    • Home
    • About Us
      • Meet the Doctors
        • Dr. Ronald L. Receveur
        • Dr. Bradley Frederick
      • See Dr. Ron On TV
      • Get Dr. Ron’s Book
    • Solutions We Offer
      • All-In-One-Place™
      • Do I Need Bone Grafting?
      • IV Sedation
      • The One Day Smile Solution
      • All-On-4 Zirconium Bridges
    • Patient Testimonials
      • Smile Gallery
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    Home > Blog > 9 Surprising Things That Can Ruin Your Smile, Part 1

    9 Surprising Things That Can Ruin Your Smile, Part 1

    March 11, 2015

    We have a lot of patients who come to us for solutions to a wide range of dental problems. Unfortunately, many of them don’t realize that a lot of these problems could be prevented, saving them time, money, and pain!

    As we’ve said many times, our New Albany dental office is not here to judge you. We don’t want to make you feel embarrassed or ashamed about your teeth, no matter how bad of shape you think they’re in! We believe every one of our patients has the right to a healthy, beautiful smile in a comfortable environment with a friendly, experienced staff.

    Because we care—and not because we want to lecture you!—we’d like to let you know about some things that can do damage to your teeth. Avoiding these 9 things below can help keep your smile healthy and bright!

    Dark Foods and Beverages

    Have you ever spilled juice on your shirt and struggled to get the stain out? Well, certain dark fruit juices can stain your teeth just as much as they can stain your clothes! The same is true of red wine, coffee, tea, soda, colored beverages and candies, tomato sauces, curry sauces, and berries.

    When you eat a lot of these, you’ll notice that your teeth begin to stain. That’s because many contain substances that are damaging your enamel—and carbonated soda is the real enemy because it’s full of sugar and acid!

    If you want to keep your teeth bright, consider limiting these foods and drinks, drinking water directly afterward, and making sure they don’t sit in your mouth for a long time before you swallow.

    Sugary Foods

    You’ve always heard that sugar is bad for your teeth. Do you know why? It’s because bacteria in your mouth uses sugar that’s sitting on your teeth to create acid. This acid eats away at your teeth and causes tooth decay, or cavities.

    To help prevent tooth decay, you should try to limit candy, fruit snacks, sweetened drinks, pastries and desserts, and diets high in acidic foods. You might even be surprised to find out that starchy foods like chips and pretzels can also get stuck in your teeth and contribute to tooth decay.

    Opt for foods and snacks that are actually healthy for your teeth, like dairy products (cheese, milk, yogurt), fruits and veggies, especially crunchy ones, and lean proteins like chicken and fish. These contain minerals like calcium that restore the minerals your teeth are made of!

    When you do indulge in sugary foods, limit the amount and the time they’re in your mouth and on your teeth, and swish some water in your mouth when you’re done eating.

    Ice

    Sometimes we see damage from patients who chew on ice cubes. Because ice is hard, it can crack or chip your teeth, which can cause a lot of pain or (sometimes expensive!) damage to your teeth. The same is true of hard candies and peanut brittle. And if you already have damage to your teeth, whether you know about it or not, you could be doing further damage to your smile when you chew on ice or hard candy.

    If you want something cold, drink ice water or cold milk instead; if you want something else to chew on, opt for sugarless gum.

    Medications

    If you’re taking a prescription medication for a health condition like depression, anxiety, high blood pressure, nerve pain, or seizures, or have been taking antihistamines, pain relievers, decongestants, or muscle relaxants, you might have noticed a change in your mouth. According to the American Dental Association, more than 500 different mediations can cause you to have dry mouth, also known as xerostomia.

    How does this affect your smile? Dry mouth means you have less saliva flow. And saliva
    helps your mouth for two reasons: first, it contains bacteria-fighting substances, and second, it helps flush away food debris and sugar from your teeth and tongue. Take away some of your saliva, and you increase the bad bacteria and sugar that contribute to decay and gum disease.

    Stopping your medication might not be an option for you, but you can speak to your prescribing physician about alternative prescriptions. You can also increase the amount of water you’re drinking, eat foods like fruits and vegetables that are high in water content, and ask us about mouthwashes and other products that can help restore the moisture in your mouth.

    Also, keep coming in for regular checkups so that we can ensure your dry mouth isn’t putting you at risk for smile problems!

    You can read more here from the ADA about medications that affect your smile.

    Call Us Today to Keep Your Smile Healthy!

    Today we talked about 4 ways to harm your smile and how to prevent the damage. Make sure you join us next time for the remaining 5 things that can harm your pearly whites—some may surprise you!

    Contact us today via phone or email for an appointment to learn about healthy oral habits that will keep your teeth looking great for years to come!

    Find Out How to Get New Teeth For Life in One Day!
    Find Out How to Get New Teeth For Life in One Day!

    Discover what you need to know to get your smile back in as little as one day... Without running around to several offices or doctors!

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    S. A. (Verified Patient) | Jan 27, 2021
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    If you are looking for a friendly, patient, understanding staff and want perfection, you are picking the best!!!!

    M. W. (Verified Patient) | Jan 27, 2021
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    Excellent Doctors, hygienists and staff.

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    Awesome place. Awesome people. A comfortable place to have that smile taken care of.

    Awesome place. Awesome people. A comfortable place to have that smile taken care of.

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    Love going here! Staff is extra friendly and kind. Of course it is difficult to...
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    Love going here! Staff is extra friendly and kind. Of course it is difficult to talk with your mouth being worked on, but the dental technician you see remembers the things you all talk about at the 6 month appointments, and is always so friendly as well. They also give you really practical and simple ways to improve your dental hygiene, and i have started brushing everyday now because of their guidance. Could not recommend them more!

    B. S. (Verified Patient) | Dec 14, 2020
    5
    Professional and personable staff. I truly felt like I was being cared for not "worked...
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    Professional and personable staff. I truly felt like I was being cared for not "worked on". They seek to make my experience as comfortable as possible. Great job.

    K. B. (Verified Patient) | Dec 11, 2020
    5
    The dentists and staff here are marvelous. They ended up having to deliver some rather...
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    The dentists and staff here are marvelous. They ended up having to deliver some rather bad news to me, but it was done with courtesy and respect. I really appreciate that.

    K. B. (Verified Patient) | Dec 11, 2020
    5
    The dentists and staff here are marvelous. They ended up having to deliver some rather...
    Read More

    The dentists and staff here are marvelous. They ended up having to deliver some rather bad news to me, but it was done with courtesy and respect. I really appreciate that.

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    819 Mt. Tabor Road, New Albany, IN 47150
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    Call Today to make an Appointment 888-469-3982 Request an Appointment

    Location

    819 Mt. Tabor Road, New Albany, IN 47150
    View Larger Map

    Office Hours

    • Monday 7:30 am - 5:00 pm
    • Tuesday 7:30 am - 5:00 pm
    • Wednesday 7:30 am - 5:00 pm
    • Thursday 7:30 am - 5:00 pm
    • Friday 7:30 am - 5:00 pm
    • Saturday Closed
    • Sunday Closed

    Latest Blog Articles

    Get Your New Teeth the Easy Way

    You need replacement teeth. You need teeth removed. You want dental implants and restorations that are strong and ...

    Read More
    Choose ‘Beautiful’ Replacement Teeth

    Brenda is open about the problems she was having with her teeth. She was in pain, and she avoided eating many foods as ...

    Read More
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