The Impact of Diet on Your Dental Health

You rely on your teeth to chew and eat. But did you know that the foods you eat also have an impact on your dental health? Certain foods, if eaten too often, can increase your risk of cavities and tooth decay. Other foods are actually great for your teeth and gums.

If you’d like to improve and protect your dental health by making smart dietary choices, here are a few top tips to keep in mind.

Steer Clear of Sugary Drinks

Sugary drinks are particularly bad for your dental health. The liquid can flow in between your teeth, introducing sugar to these areas. Then, the sugar becomes food for oral bacteria, and those oral bacteria secrete acidic substances. Over time, that acid can wear away your tooth enamel, leading to cavities and decay.

Sugar is also great food for the oral bacteria that cause gum disease. If you drink a lot of sugary drinks and are not vigilant about brushing and flossing, you may find your gums become sore and start bleeding easily. Those are early signs of gum disease.

Soda is the best-known sugary drink, but fruit juice and energy drinks are also quite sugary. Limit your intake of these drinks, and instead opt for sugar-free options such as water, seltzer, and green tea. When you do enjoy a sugary drink, follow it up with a swig of water to rinse the residual sugar off of your teeth.

Limit Candy and Sugary Snacks

The sugar in candy, cookies, and other sweet treats isn’t great for your teeth, either. You don’t have to avoid birthday cake for the rest of your life, but you should try to limit your intake of these sugary items. Some people only indulge on special occasions. Or, you may want to make dessert a once-a-week treat instead of a nightly habit.

If you do enjoy a sugary treat, brush your teeth afterwards. If brushing is not convenient, try following up your treat with a few bites of apple, celery, or another crunchy veggie. This can help scrub sugary residue off the surface of your teeth, reducing your risk of cavities.

Get Your Calcium

Calcium is a core component of tooth enamel, which is the hard, outer layer of your teeth. If you have really strong enamel, then you’ll be less prone to cavities and decay. To build and maintain healthy tooth enamel, you need to get plenty of calcium in your diet.

Dairy products are the best-known source of calcium. However, if you don’t like or can’t consume dairy, there are some other calcium-rich foods you can try:

• Leafy greens
• Calcium-fortified orange juice
• Nuts and seeds
• Fortified plant milks, such as almond milk and oat milk

Eat Plenty of Fruits and Veggies

In addition to calcium, there are several other minerals you need for optimal dental health. Magnesium, zinc, and potassium are some of the most important ones. If you eat plenty of fruits and vegetables, you should have no trouble getting enough of these minerals.

Avocados, bananas, and leafy greens are all great sources of magnesium. Blueberries, bananas, and peas are good sources of zinc, and you can get plenty of potassium from potatoes and bananas.

Limit Snacking

There’s nothing wrong with eating an afternoon snack if you’re hungry. However, you don’t want to simply be grazing and munching all day. When you do so, you are continually introducing new food particles to your teeth, and you don’t really get a chance to clean them of bacteria in between. So, the most tooth-friendly approach is to eat at meal times, and maybe enjoy one or two additional snacks throughout the day. Whenever you can brush after eating, do so.

Avoid Overly Hard and Crunchy Foods

There’s nothing wrong with eating some potato chips or pretzels now and then. But chewing on overly crunchy foods, such as hard candies and candied nuts, is not always a good choice for your dental health. You may crack or break a tooth, especially if you have filings and other dental improvements. Suck on hard candy, and avoid chewing on ice, toffee, or nut shells.

As the saying goes, you are what you eat – and if you want to be someone with great oral health, you need to eat a tooth-healthy diet. Follow the tips above, and your teeth will thank you. Don’t hesitate to contact us with any questions, or if you’d like to schedule a checkup and cleaning. RiteSmile Dental is your trusted dentist in Sugar Land.