We are all well aware of the essential role that brushing and flossing daily has for avoiding gum disease, crooked teeth, and cavities, but prevention is better than cure, and these issues can be prevented by what we eat, and how we eat it. By consuming a wholesome & ‘tooth friendly’ diet you lower your risk of irreversible damage to your teeth such as dental decay and dental erosion.
Quick Tooth-Friendly Diet Tips
- Limit snacking in between meals to reduce the number of acid attacks on your teeth. Sugars in the food and drinks we consume fuel the bacteria in our mouth. When the bacteria process the sugars they release acids into the mouth and onto our teeth. These damaging acids attack the outer enamel layer of our teeth creating a ‘weak spot’, which then results in tooth decay.
- Drink lots of fluoridated tap water throughout the day. Fluoridated water is scientifically proven to help the development of healthy teeth. Dental Erosion (the irreversible loss/wear of enamel on our teeth causing exposure of dentine and nerve endings, causing tooth sensitivity) is also caused by dietary acids, in particular beverages high in sugar and acids, such as soft drinks, sports drinks, energy drinks, juices, lemon water and sugar-free sweet drinks. Importantly, this also means avoiding adding sugar to things like coffee, tea, and breakfast cereals.
- Avoid processed foods/beverages high in sugar e.g.: biscuits, chips, lollies, chocolate, muesli bars, etc. Not only will a wholesome diet keep your teeth in tiptop shape, but it will also help your overall nutrition and wellbeing. Having dairy products such a cheese in between meals can help buffer acids in your mouth.
- Chew sugar-free gum in between meals. Chewing gum helps to suppress your appetite, and sugar-free gum often has helpful additives to ensure fresh breath, which means killing lingering germs in your mouth.
- Lastly, limit sugary treats to be part of a meal, rather than as a snack. This will help you to get out of the habit of snacking on them!
Unfortunately a lot of people disassociate their mouth with their general health and wellbeing, however if you think about it, our mouth & teeth are responsible for the intake of all the essential nutrients to ensure the health of our whole body. This is why the health of our mouth and teeth are vital to our general health and wellbeing.
For more tips on keeping your teeth and mouth at optimal health, speak to your Medland Dental Hygienist or Dentist during your next visit.
