Tag: diet and teeth

Teeth Nutrition

Creating A Nutritional Plan To Protect Your Teeth

Your diet is a crucial part of your dental care plan that often gets overlooked. In general, people do a good job about brushing their teeth on a regular basis, but if we can be more cognizant of how our diet affects our mouth, we can better care for our teeth between brushes. Below, we take a closer look at how certain foods can affect our teeth, and how to protect your teeth with a well-rounded nutritional plan.

Your Diet and Your Teeth

What we eat first has to pass our teeth and gums, and certain foods can do more damage than others. For example, sugary foods, even fruits with natural sugars like apples and oranges, can cause problems with your teeth and gums. Also, since these foods have higher acid concentrations, they can also wear down your tooth enamel.

Now, that’s not to say that you should avoid sweet fruits because Vitamin C is beneficial for healthy teeth, but you just have to be smart about eating these options. For example, if you’re going to eat fruit, consider eating it alongside other foods so that the sugar and acid gets worked off your teeth by these other foods. Also, regardless of whether you’re snacking on fruit or having it alongside a main course, drink plenty of water to wash away sugars that may have been left behind.

What other things should you consider when creating a nutritional plan that will protect your teeth? Here are some quick tips:

  • Avoid sugary sodas and juices. Instead, opt for water that has been fortified with fluoride.
  • Limit the amount of natural and added sugars you consume on a daily basis, as extra sugar can contribute to the onset of cavities.
  • Sticky options, like fruit snacks or raisins, should be avoided on their own, as they have a propensity to stick to your teeth, and stuck on sugars can wear down teeth even faster.
  • Get plenty of vegetables, fruits, and dairy in your diet, as these can all strengthen your dental health.
  • Even if you can’t feel food particles between your teeth, consider flossing at least once a day, although twice a day after eating is even better!
  • Set a good example for your kids. If you choose healthy dental options, they are more likely to follow suit, which will help their mouth stay healthy.
  • Brush your teeth before breakfast, and brush again after dinner for at least two minutes each time to help keep your teeth protected throughout the day and night.

Preventive Dental Care in MN

Having good oral health isn’t just about brushing, it also involves your daily diet. If you still have questions on how to make your dental health a priority when making nutritional choices, or if you want to run something by Dr. Brooks, don’t hesitate to reach out to his office for more information today!

Diet & Dental Health

How Your Diet Affects Your Dental Health

What you eat plays a huge role in your overall health, but your weight and cholesterol aren’t the only things affected by your dietary choices. Your teeth help to get the eating process started, but they can also be affected by the types of food you are eating. Here’s a closer look at why you should reconsider what types of food you are putting in your mouth.

Sugar and Your Teeth

Sugar makes its way into a lot of the foods we eat, which is why we need to pay close attention to how much sugar we consume on a daily basis. The FDA recommends that individuals over the age of three consume no more than 50 grams of sugar a day, but many teens and adults cruise past that threshold on a regular basis.

One reason why sugar is bad for your oral health is because it helps to spur bacteria production. Bacteria use carbohydrates and other simple sugars as a nutrition source, so when you have more in your diet, you are making it easier for bacteria to thrive and break down your teeth.

We get plenty of sugar in our diet from foods like donuts, cookies, ice cream and chocolate, but there’s one culprit that is especially damaging to our teeth – soda. Soda is packed with sugar or sugar substitutes that facilitate bacteria growth, and because it is in liquid form, these sugars can easily make their way between teeth or in hard to reach places. Individuals who drink soda on a regular basis are at a much higher risk for developing cavities or dental problems than those who stick to water or tea. This includes diet sodas that are sugar free, because they use sugar substitutes like aspartame that can also break down enamel and weaken teeth.

Diet Tips To Remember

When it comes to protecting your teeth by choosing a healthy diet, keep these tips in mind:

  • Avoid sugar-dense or carbohydrate-dense foods in large doses.
  • Swap out soda and juice for water or tea.
  • Avoid large meals before bedtime, as this can contribute to acid reflux.
  • Add plenty of vegetables and fruits to your diet, but avoid eating overly acidic options like tomatoes and oranges as a stand alone snack.
  • Brush your teeth at least twice a day, and consider other oral health options like flossing and mouthwash.
  • Get plenty of calcium and protein-rich foods that help to strengthen tooth enamel.
  • Ask your dentist about any questions you have pertaining to your diet or your dental health.

At the end of the day, if you limit your sugar consumption, get a variety of options from the food pyramid on a daily basis and you regularly brush and floss, we’re confident that your diet will help to nurture your oral health. If you have any questions or want to set up an appointment, give Dr. Brooks’ clinic a call today.