We’ve all heard that it’s important to brush and floss. What other important things should you do every day to take care of your oral health?

Smoking and alcohol can be extremely detrimental to a person’s oral health. Both habits put a person at much higher risk for developing cancer of the mouth or throat. In addition, I have found that my patients who smoke have a much higher incidence of periodontal disease and periodontal bone loss than those who do not.

Diet is another factor that plays a role in oral health. Carbonated soda consumption or an acidic diet can lead to the breakdown and erosion of teeth and make caries more likely. Frequent consumption of sugary foods or a high carbohydrate diet also can have this effect.

Of course we should be able to enjoy all sorts of foods and beverages, but when considering their potential for producing harmful effects, what matters most is the amount of time these foods remain in the mouth. If you consume them once or twice a day they are much less likely to cause a problem than if they are consumed throughout the day.