Most people know that our early ancestors suffered from tooth decay because they had yet to realize ways to preserve good oral health. Surprisingly, however, one of the main reasons why tooth decay was accelerated in those times was because of all the nuts they ate. An article from Smithsonian Magazine explains further:

“… As people grew more plants around 10,000 years ago, the thinking went, they ate more fermentable carbohydrates and created a favorable oral environment for Streptococcus mutans, a type of bacterium that delights in causing tooth decay. Now, however, new evidence has emerged to refute the idea of hunter-gatherers with pearly white teeth. Thanks to a diet high in nuts, some hunter-gatherers’ rotten breath and cavity-filled teeth rivaled those of their agriculturally-inclined descendants.”

Most people try their best to see their family dentist in Salt Lake City once every six months. Although that practice greatly helps preserve good oral health, there are a few common habits that surprisingly reverse all the good a dentist has done for a person’s teeth. Some of these habits include:

Alcohol Consumption

Consuming alcohol is bad for your teeth because of its acidic nature. Wine is particularly bad because it is made from grapes (an acidic fruit), and has the tendency to stain teeth.

Consuming too much of any type of alcohol ruins your teeth in more ways than one. When you throw up, your teeth are exposed to hydrochloric acid that weakens tooth enamel.

Immediate Brushing

The ideal is to brush your teeth after every meal. However, dental experts like Dr. Faerber from Alpenglow Dental in South Jordan, Utah warn against brushing immediately after a meal because your teeth have been weakened by the acidic properties of the food you just consumed. Brushing too early can cause your toothbrush to scrape away the softened enamel. Dental experts recommend waiting at least 30 minutes after eating before brushing your teeth.

To maintain good oral health, be sure to follow extra good oral hygiene habits like flossing and gargling antiseptic mouthwash. Also, see a family dentist in South Jordan or Salt Lake City once every six months for proper cleaning.

(Article Information and Image from Hunter-Gatherers Ruined Their Teeth by Eating Too Many Acorns, Smithsonian Magazine, January 8, 2014)