How Do Your Diet and Hygiene Affect Mouth Sores? – Tips from Your Family Dentist in Surrey
If you’ve ever experienced mouth sores, you’ll know that they’re more than just an inconvenience. They can be both painful and uncomfortable, and in some cases make it difficult to speak and eat. Your family dentist in Surrey can help to provide treatment for oral sores. You can even learn tips to prevent mouth sores, and they’re all simple to follow.
Let’s explore how your diet and oral hygiene habits can contribute to mouth sores, and what you should do to avoid this common but mostly preventable condition.
Diet and Mouth Sores are Often Related
Like many aspects of your health, diet plays a significant role in the development of mouth sores. Certain foods and drinks can increase the risk of developing these sores. If you already have mouth sores, then what you choose to eat and drink could contribute to the problem.
Here are the foods that you’ll want to avoid to limit your risk of developing sores in your mouth…
- Spicy Foods – This one might seem obvious, although it’s a little more complicated than you might think. Spicy foods don’t usually cause sores alone. Instead, they more commonly make existing mouth sores worse. Highly spiced foods can irritate the soft lining in the mouth, making mouth sores inflamed and more painful. If you have mouth sores, limit spicy foods as much as possible. If you’ve had sores in the past, consider limiting your spicy food intake or dial back the spice a little, it could help to prevent you from getting sores in the future.
- Acidic Foods and Drinks – These are by far the worst dietary choices you can make, not only for your mouth but also your teeth and your stomach. Acidic foods and drinks can unbalance the PH level in your mouth. This can damage tooth enamel as well as soft tissues. In your stomach, acidic foods can cause indigestion and can irritate the stomach lining. If you’re prone to having mouth sores, then you’ll definitely need to limit your intake of acidic foods and drinks.
Allergies can also play a role in the formation or worsening of sores in the mouth. Sometimes allergies are minor and result in sensitivity and inflammation. If you know of any foods or drinks that cause sensitivity in the soft tissues of your mouth, you should consciously avoid these. If you’re unsure about allergies but have had a negative reaction to certain foods or drinks in the past, you can talk to your physician for an allergy test. This will help you to make the best decisions regarding your diet.
Oral Hygiene – Do You Need Treatment with a Dental Hygienist?
Avoiding spicy foods and other problem foods can help prevent sores or allow existing sores to heal. There’s also another side to the topic, which is your overall oral hygiene.
Bad or inconsistent oral hygiene can increase the risk of developing sores in your mouth. Any dental hygienist will tell you that the first step in protecting your mouth and your teeth is regular brushing, flossing, and rinsing. You can prevent sores by following a few simple steps…
- Brush your teeth Twice Daily – This one is non-negotiable. You can get a professional cleaning every six months with your dental hygienist, but the rest of the work is done at home. Use a soft-bristled toothbrush with a pea-sized amount of fluoride-based toothpaste. Brush consistently around all teeth surfaces for two to three minutes. This helps to remove food particles that could attract acid-producing bacteria. Sores often develop when there are excessive amounts of bacteria produced in the mouth.
- Rinse and Floss – You should floss daily between teeth to remove food particles and plaque that are left after brushing. You can also rinse using a dentist-approved mouthwash. This helps to clean out bacteria and particles for a healthier and fresher mouth, reducing the risk of sores.
- Replace Oral Appliances Frequently – If you use any type of oral appliance, whether it be a retainer or even a mouthguard, these should be cleaned daily and checked for replacement every time that you visit your family dentist in Surrey.
- Have Regular Sessions with a Dental Hygienist – Your dental hygienist can provide specialist cleaning sessions that take care of plaque and tartar missed by home brushing. You should have treatment with your dental hygienist every six months. This can be combined with your regular dental check-ups with your family dentist in Surrey.
Your dental hygienist plays an important role in your overall oral health. In addition to providing professional cleaning, your dental hygienist can check for damage to your teeth and the tissues in your mouth. If you frequently suffer from sores, then your dental hygienist will make recommendations for home hygiene that can help you.
Book an Appointment with Your Family Dentist in Surrey
If you currently have sores in your mouth, or if you’ve had them frequently in the past, you can visit your family dentist in Surrey for a complete dental check-up and advice on treating or preventing the problem. Sometimes mouth sores can be related to an underlying oral health issue, which your family dentist in Surrey can help with.
Nordel Crossing Dental Centre is your local family dentist in Surrey. Learn more today by booking your appointment with our friendly and knowledgeable team.