http://shine.yahoo.com/healthy-living/7-surprising-ways-39-ruining-teeth-170700973.html
7 Surprising Ways You're Ruining Your Teeth
By Good Housekeeping | Healthy Living – Fri, Jan 3, 2014 8:13 PM EST"If you brush too vigorously, you can wear away at your enamel and cause sensitivity and even gum recession," says dentist Nuntiya Kakanantadilok, director of the division of pediatric dentistry at Montefiore Medical Center in New York City. Buy a brush with soft bristles and move it in small circles, not side to side, she says.
"They can wear away enamel," says Kakanantadilok. That's a problem because that top protective layer of the teeth can never grow back. Nerves below it lose their protection, and you may start to feel pain from hot or cold. Some acidic, erosion-causing culprits: regular (and diet) soda, orange juice, wine, sports drinks, sour gummy candies, and lemons. "Think about your tooth as a seashell," says dentist Martha Ann Keels, division chief for pediatric dentistry at Duke Children's Hospital. "If you put a seashell in Coke, it will disappear."
It's normal to want pearlier whites. After all, says Price, "As we get older, teeth get darker." But don't overdo it. "Basically, you're exposing your teeth to a very mild acid," says Kakanantadilok. "Excessive bleaching can weaken enamel. Over time, even mild acid can begin to erode the mineral content of the tooth, causing the enamel to become porous and eventually to break down and become more sensitive."
When you bite into a piece of hot pizza, you're expanding your enamel. "Then you take a big dose of cold cola, not with a straw, and you're going to cause contraction," says Price. That can create what's called a "craze line" -- a vertical, hair-thin crack in the enamel that can lead to breaks and stains. "It would be similar to what happens to a porcelain plate that goes from hot to cold," says Price.
Pick one that's not too abrasive: The FDA rates toothpastes using a "relative dentin abrasion" (RDA) scale. Anything above 100 is considered abrasive, above 150 is highly abrasive, and above 200 is not recommended, says Kakanantadilok. For your reference: Colgate Total gets 70, Colgate Baking Soda & Peroxide Whitening Toothpaste gets 145, and Arm & Hammer Dental Care PM gets 168.
Some people think this is enough -- some people are wrong. Brush for two minutes a day, twice a day. Otherwise, you increase the odds that you'll get cavities, which, if untreated, can spread into the jaw and cause infections. If you're at work and can't get to your toothbrush, a good solution is to keep a box of dental floss in your purse or drawer. "Floss first, if that's all you can do," says Keels.
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