How Does the Diet Impact Your Oral Health?

You might have heard that brushing and flossing your teeth are the most in maintaining optimal oral health. Although brushing and flossing are essential, they are not sufficient for oral health. You need to go to the dentist near you for regular checkups and be mindful of what you eat. We’re going to focus on your diet and how it affects your oral health.

What Are the Best Foods For Your Teeth?

Here are some of the best foods for your gums and teeth:

Green and black teas. These teas have polyphenols that interact with the bacteria that cause plaque. When the polyphenols interact with the bacteria, they either hold back the bacteria or kill them. Holding back the bacteria means that the bacteria cannot grow, reproduce, or create acid using food debris that erodes your teeth. Moreover, the water you use to make the tea can contain fluoride, fortifying your tooth’s enamel.

Veggies and fiber-rich fruits. Foods that contain fiber help keep your gums and teeth clean. Additionally, the fibers also trigger the production of saliva. Other than brushing and flossing your teeth, the Chicago dentist recommends taking fiber-rich fruits and vegetables as they’re your best natural defense against gum disease and cavities by producing saliva, which dislodges food particles between teeth reducing the risk of cavities and gum disease. In addition, saliva also restores minerals to your teeth which might have been lost due to bacterial acids in your mouth.

Milk, yogurt, cheese, and other dairy products. Cheese also triggers saliva production. On the other hand, milk and other dairy products contain calcium and phosphate, which helps restore minerals in your teeth lost due to the consumption of citrus fruits like oranges and grapefruit. Dairy products also help fortify the tooth enamel preventing the entry of bacteria and tooth erosion.

Foods that contain fluoride. Commercially prepared foods like powdered cereals, seafood, and poultry products contain fluoride, a useful mineral in your teeth. Fluoride remineralizes your teeth and fortifies the tooth enamel reducing the risk of tooth cavities. Fluoride is also found in the water you drink or in products you make with fluoridated water, like dehydrated soups and powdered juices.

Lean sources of protein like fish, skinless poultry, and lean beef and legumes are also good for oral health. You should also ensure that the dairy products you consume are fat-free or contain low-fat content.

What Are the Worst Foods for Your Teeth?

Carbonated soft drinks- these beverages contain lots of sugar. The harmful bacterium in your mouth relies on the sugar found in the foods and drinks you take to form acids that erode your teeth. Additionally, these soft drinks have citric and phosphoric acids, which also wear away the enamel. So, even soft drinks labeled zero sugar or diet drinks still have these acids that are harmful to your teeth.

Sticky starch foods- examples of such foods are potato chips and soft bread, which can easily get stuck between your teeth. When they do, it can be challenging to remove them through brushing. This is why you should floss at least once daily.

Substances that leave your mouth dry– we’ve mentioned that saliva is essential for your gums and teeth. Therefore, if you regularly take substances like alcohol, tobacco, and its products, and acidic drinks like orange juice, your mouth is left dry. A dry mouth heightens the risk of gum disease, developing infections, and gum disease. Certain medicines can also lead to having a dry mouth. If that is the case, you should visit the dental office near you and consult the dentist about getting a fluoride gel or fluoride rinse you can use for brushing your teeth.

Sticky sweets and candies- although we’ve mentioned sticky sweets and candies, all sweets and candies are not suitable for your teeth. They include lollipops, cough drops, and caramels. However, not everyone can stay without taking sweets, and if you must, opt for sweets that clear out of your mouth quickly. This is because the longer the sugar stays in your mouth, the longer the harmful bacteria act on the sugars to produce acid that leads to dental cavities.

We’ve listed some of the foods that are good and bad for your teeth. Remember that you need to consume a balanced diet for good nutrition to benefit you and your oral health. Moreover, you should visit Dental Impressions for regular cleanings and exams to ensure that your gums and teeth are in good condition.