Shock. Horror. Your diet could be ruining your teeth

But the best dentist in Manchester says all you need is a little common senseAs a leading North West based dental practice - in fact, we have been described as the ‘best dentist in Manchester’ - we keep a close eye on newspaper articles, social media tweets and other news snippets that relate to dentistry and good oral health. Very often these articles are interesting and make sound sense. Occasionally though we come across one that, shall we say in our opinion goes slightly over the top. Last week we saw an excellent example of this. IS YOUR DIET RUINING YOUR TEETH? screamed the headline and it went on to list a whole menu of everyday foods that, so the article claimed, are damaging your teeth.  Theoretically, the facts are not incorrect, but with a little bit of common sense, the foods we eat on a daily basis don’t have to destroy the looks and health of your teeth.According to the newspaper article, the dental damaging foods include such staples as tomatoes, salad leaves, fruity yoghurt, smoothies, berries, salad dressings, plus of course our daily cuppa, coffee and red wine.The article then went on to reveal how to keep your teeth pearly white. Was there an ulterior motive behind the editorial we were left wondering?Certainly as the ‘best dentist in Manchester’ we have to agree that certain foods, and drinks too for that matter, can discolour your teeth – although it didn’t mention more hazardous dishes such as curries or strong, richly coloured sauces. The article though appeared to have more than a passing interest in promoting teeth whitening treatments and whitening toothpaste.We also have to admit that the article did include good advice such as clean your teeth regularly using a good toothbrush (we would also add … and fluoride toothpaste). It also advised readers to drink lots of water to cleanse their mouth and teeth of acids that are present in the food and drinks.One piece of advice we definitely do not agree with is that it advised readers to brush their teeth right after eating foods that can cause discolouration. The fact is that eating and drinking will soften the enamel that protects your teeth. So cleaning your teeth immediately after eating is probably one of the worst things you can do. Our advice is to leave it a while before you brush.If you look at our Hygiene page and Cleaning Advice page you will find lots of useful videos that demonstrate the correct teeth cleaning methods. For us, the best piece of advice in the article and something as the ‘best dentist in Manchester’ we wholeheartedly agree with, is that it recommends you should visit your dentist at least twice a year for regular check-ups and professional cleaning. Now that is something that is vital for the health of your teeth and gums. If you require it we can also tell you more about our range of professional teeth whitening treatments.To arrange a dental check-up and professional cleaning please contact us now. You can call us on 0161 951 7295 or alternatively you can contact us by using the online form on our Appointments page.