. The good guys . Some suggested foods:• Fiber-rich fruits and vegetables. Foods with fiber have a detergent effect in your mouth, says the American Dental Association (ADA). They also get saliva flowing. Next to good home dental care, this is your best natural defense against cavities and gum disease. About 20 minutes after you eat something containing sugars or starches, your saliva begins to reduce the effects of the acids and enzymes attacking your teeth. Because saliva contains traces of calcium and phosphate, it also restores minerals to areas of teeth that have lost them from the bacterial acids. • Cheese, milk, plain yogurt, and other dairy products. Cheese is another saliva maker. The calcium in cheese, and the calcium and phosphates in milk and other dairy products, help put back minerals your teeth might have lost due to other foods. • Green and black teas. Both contain polyphenols that interact with plaque bacteria. These substances either kill or hold back bacteria. This prevents them from growing or producing acid that attacks teeth. Depending on the type of water you use to brew your tea, a cup of tea can also be a source of fluoride. • Sugarless chewing gum. This is another great saliva maker that removes food particles from your mouth. • Foods with fluoride. Fluoridated drinking water, or any product you make with fluoridated water, helps your teeth. This includes powdered juices (as long as they don't contain a lot of sugar) and dehydrated soups. Commercially prepared foods, like poultry products, seafood, and powdered cereals, also can give fluoride. The bad guys Some items to avoid:• Sticky candies and sweets. If you eat sweets, go for those that clear out of your mouth quickly. So thumbs down for lollipops, caramels, and cough drops that contain refined sugar. Note: Effects of chocolate on preventing cavities have been widely promoted (largely by studies funded by the candy industry), but not totally proven. Cacao (70%) does have some health benefits. Some studies have shown chocolate to be not as bad as other sugary treats. • Starchy foods that can get stuck in your mouth. Soft breads and potato chips, for instance, can get trapped between your teeth. • Carbonated soft drinks. These drinks are the leading source of added sugar among kids and teens. Besides being loaded with sugar, most soft drinks contain phosphoric and citric acids that wear away tooth enamel. • Substances that dry out your mouth. These include alcohol and many medicines. If medicines are the cause, consider talking to your healthcare provider about getting a fluoride rinse, or a fluoride gel for brushing your teeth. Eat for a healthy mouth.The ADA offers these tips to help reduce tooth-decay risk from the foods you eat:• Consume sugary foods with meals. Your mouth makes more saliva during meals, and this helps to reduce the effect of acid production and to rinse pieces of food from the mouth. • Limit between-meal snacks. If you crave a snack, choose something nutritious. Consider chewing sugarless gum afterward to increase saliva flow and wash out food and acid. • Drink more water. Fluoridated water can help prevent tooth decay. If you choose bottled water, check the label for the fluoride content. • Brush your teeth twice and floss once a day. • Dentists say that the most important part of tooth care happens at home. Brushing and flossing properly, along with regular dental checkups, can help prevent tooth decay and gum disease.• If you're like most people, you don't exactly look forward to facing a dentist's drill. So wouldn't it be better to prevent cavities before they begin?• Giving Plaque the Brush-Off• To prevent cavities, you need to remove plaque, the transparent layer of bacteria that coats the teeth. The best way to do this is by brushing your teeth twice a day and flossing at least once a day. Brushing also stimulates the gums, which helps to keep them healthy and prevent gum disease. Brushing and flossing are the most important things that you can do to keep your teeth and gums healthy.• Toothpastes contain abrasives, detergents, and foaming agents. Fluoride, the most common active ingredient in toothpaste, is what prevents cavities. So you should always be sure your toothpaste contains fluoride.• About 1 person in 10 has a tendency to accumulate tartar quickly. Tartar is plaque in a hardened form that is more damaging and difficult to remove. Using anti-tartar toothpastes and mouthwashes, as well as spending extra time brushing the teeth near the salivary glands (the inside of the lower front teeth and the outside of the upper back teeth) may slow the development of new tartar.• If you have teeth that are sensitive to heat, cold, and pressure, you may want to try a special toothpaste for sensitive teeth. But you'll still need to talk to your dentist about your sensitivity because it may indicate a more serious problem, such as a cavity or nerve inflammation (irritation).• Giving Plaque the Brush-Off• To prevent cavities, you need to remove plaque, the transparent layer of bacteria that coats the teeth. The best way to do this is by brushing your teeth twice a day and flossing at least once a day. Brushing also stimulates the gums, which helps to keep them healthy and prevent gum disease. Brushing and flossing are the most important things that you can do to keep your teeth and gums healthy.• Toothpastes contain abrasives, detergents, and foaming agents. Fluoride, the most common active ingredient in toothpaste, is what prevents cavities. So you should always be sure your toothpaste contains fluoride.• About 1 person in 10 has a tendency to accumulate tartar quickly. Tartar is plaque in a hardened form that is more damaging and difficult to remove. Using anti-tartar toothpastes and mouthwashes, as well as spending extra time brushing the teeth near the salivary glands (the inside of the lower front teeth and the outside of the upper back teeth) may slow the development of new tartar.• If you have teeth that are sensitive to heat, cold, and pressure, you may want to try a special toothpaste for sensitive teeth. But you'll still need to talk to your dentist about your sensitivity because it may indicate a more serious problem, such as a cavity or nerve inflammation (irritation).What Is a Tooth? Teeth are like bones. They are alive. They start forming before you are born and continue to develop until you are an adult. Teeth form inside the jaw and are nourished and protected by the pink tissue that surrounds them. That pink tissue is called the gums. The crown is the part of the tooth you can see above the gums, but there is a lot more to your teeth.The tooth is made up of five parts. The enamelis the white covering on the top. It is the hardest substance in your whole body. The layer under the enamel that you can't see is the dentin. It makes up most of the tooth and isn't as hard as the enamel. The pulp is under the dentin and it is the softest part of the tooth. It is made up of nerves and blood vessels. It is what hurts when you get a toothache. The root is what holds the tooth in place and a thin layer of tissue called the clementum protects it.How Many Teeth? Kids have about 20 teeth by the time they turn 3 years old. This first set of teeth are called milk teeth, baby teeth or primary teeth. By the time you are five or six, your first permanent teeth will start coming in. The permanent teeth lie just beneath the roots of the baby teeth.As a permanent tooth grows, it puts pressure on the baby teeth. That pressure causes the root of a baby tooth to dissolve and the baby tooth falls out. The permanent tooth then moves into place. By the time you are an adult, you should have 32 teeth.Mammal Teeth Mammal teeth are called heterodonts, meaning they have two types of teeth — the primary teeth and the permanent teeth. Mammals have four types of teeth, each with a specific task to handle for different kinds of food. Incisors are used for cutting. Canines are for tearing. Premolars are used for crushing, and molars are used to grind up food. Not all mammals have all, or even any, of each kind of tooth. It all depends upon what kind of food the animal eats.Humans have:• Eight incisors — four in your upper jaw and four in your lower jaw in the front of your mouth. Incisor means “biting tooth” and these teeth help you bite into your food. • Four canines — two in your upper jaw and two in the lower jaw. Your canines are located next to the incisors. Canine means “like a dog.” These teeth are pointed and are used to stab and tear at food.• Eight molars — four in your upper jaw and four in your lower jaw. These teeth in the back of your mouth help you grind your food.Foods for Optimum Oral Health• Calcium-rich foods, such as low-fat or fat-free milk, yogurt and cheese, fortified soy drinks and tofu, canned salmon, almonds and dark green leafy vegetables help promote strong teeth and bones.• Phosphorus, found in eggs, fish, lean meat and dairy products, is good for strong teeth.• Vitamin C promotes gum health, so eat plenty of citrus fruits, tomatoes, peppers, broccoli, potatoes and spinach.Smart snacking also can keep your mouth in good shape.

TEETH AND EATING

TEETH AND EATING

A mouth.

DON'T EAT THIS FOOD A LOT(sweets)