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Edited on Thu Aug-12-04 02:07 PM by NorthernSpy
I've never had cavities either, and I think you're right about there being a big genetic component to dental health.
I do have a tip that could help some people, though:
Sugar-free hard candy is made from substances called polyols, or 'sugar alcohols'. They taste sweet, but they are classed with non-fermentable sugars because bacteria cannot metabolize them. Additionally, some polyols also prevent bacteria from metabolizing fermentable sugars in their presence.
What this means is that when you eat a piece of sugar-free hard candy, the Streptococcus mutans bacteria that cause many dental problems are temporarily deprived of food, and cannot produce the acids that harm your teeth. It's not a bad idea to keep some sugarless fruitdrops or mints, or sugarless gum on hand -- especially if you take a medication that dries your mouth. Human saliva is alkaline, and plays a crucial role in neutralizing acids in your mouth. Reduced salivary flow can lead to cavities and other dental problems. (Just don't stress your teeth by biting down on hard candies if you want to try this tip.)
Additionally, there is evidence that sonic toothbrushes are able to remove plaque from tooth surfaces above the gumline, thus resolving some cases of gingivitis. Also, some people find that this kind of brush helps them to clean closely-spaced back teeth more effectively than manual brushing. On the downside, quality sonic toothbrushes are expensive.
Hope these tips help someone!
Mary
(added: paragraph break for clarity)
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