Food is fuel for our bodies.
We have also heard about the therapeutic value of good nutrition.
But many people don’t seem to notice the direct link between nutrition and our oral health.
In today’s post, we’ll discuss this topic in detail. Let’s see what happens to your teeth after you eat certain foods.
Food Can Cause Tooth Decay
It’s common knowledge that candies and sweets spoil teeth. We all preach this to our kids.
But do we practice what we preach? Unfortunately, no.
And it’s not just the candies that affect our teeth, sugar in any form can cause tooth decay.
Check the ingredients on the packaged food labels. Packaged snacks are usually high in sugar and can make your teeth a breeding ground for harmful bacteria.
Aerated drinks and packaged juices are also high in sugar and must be avoided for the same reason.
On the other hand, beverages like tea, coffee, and diet coke may not be so high in processed sugar but can cause your teeth to stain.
Drinks with low pH levels like Cola, alcohol, and other beverages can also erode tooth enamel. It is advisable to consume these drinks in moderation.
A diet high in sugar can also lead to bad breath.
Eating Habits Can Impact Oral Health
It’s not only what you eat that matters for dental health. How much and how often you eat also makes a lot of difference.
Munching on processed snacks or baked treats between meals exposes your teeth to sugar and can be a cause of yellowing teeth or cavities.
Just like frequent snacking, extreme dieting that includes long hours of fasting can have side effects too. It can make your breath smell foul.
Ideally, you should limit your meal frequency to 3 or 4 times a day, and avoid any snacking in between.
Also, make a habit of not eating anything at night after you’ve brushed your teeth and flossed. Midnight snacking is not only bad for your teeth, but also your overall health.
Whole Food is Best for Your Oral Health
Whole foods like grains, fruits, vegetables, nuts, meat, etc. that are consumed in home-cooked meals (that means they’re least processed) are best for your oral health.
Firstly, they are naturally low in sugar. As a result, they’re less likely to cause tooth decay or gum diseases.
Secondly, eating raw or least processed meals gives excellent exercise to your teeth and gums and makes them stronger.
Of course, eating fresh fruits, vegetables and nuts raw have innumerable health benefits too.
Also, whole foods are high in fiber and help clean away accumulated dental plaque. This means including lots of whole food in your diet can reduce the risk of cavities. And, you can say goodbye to bad breath too!
Including fruit or vegetable salads in your meals also help to maintain a healthy pH level in your mouth and inhibit bacterial growth.
Oral Probiotics Can Reduce Dental Diseases
Though gut probiotics are beneficial for gut health and reduce the risk of other diseases, they’re not particularly effective for oral health. Oral probiotics, on the other hand, create a healthy balance of good bacteria in the mouth and can significantly impact oral health.
Studies have shown that oral probiotics are effective in preventing dental diseases and also in treating them. That’s why many dentists are also prescribing oral probiotics for their patient’s well-being.
Oral probiotic supplements are made from strains of bacteria found in fermented food items like yogurt or kefir and are generally safe to consume.
But carefully select your products if you want satisfactory results. Smile Brilliant’s cariPROTM is one of the best dental probiotic supplements promising guaranteed benefits.
Water Is Important Too
Besides focusing on what you eat, you should also drink plenty of water during the day.
Water is highly alkaline and effective in neutralizing the acidic environment in your mouth. It also flushes out any food particles trapped between your teeth reducing the risk of cavities.
Drink water as it is, or use it to dilute juices.
Right Nutrition Choice Can Prevent Dental Cavities
A good oral hygiene routine is important, but you need to make healthy eating choices to keep your teeth and gums in top condition.
Choose to snack on fruits and vegetables instead of wafers or chocolates. Avoid binge drinking or excessively acidic beverages.
Eat calcium-rich foods like unprocessed cheese, yogurt, and milk to make your teeth stronger and healthier. To keep gum diseases at bay make sure your diet is high in vitamins, especially Vitamin C (everyone loves oranges, right?).
Value nutrition over flavor and you’ll naturally favor less sugary or salty treats.
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