Nutrition plays an important role in maintaining oral and overall health.
It’s no secret that nutrition plays a key role in our wellness. The foods that you choose to eat on a daily basis have an important impact on your overall health in general, as well as your oral health specifically. Foods and drinks that are high in added sugar, such as candy, sodas and juices, increase your risk of issues like tooth decay. Read on to find out how sugar affects your teeth and gums, and which foods are best when it comes to maintaining your oral health in the long term…
What causes tooth decay?
Tooth decay is one of the most common oral health issues, but it is actually preventable. Your mouth is naturally full of bacteria, which form dental plaque on the surface of the teeth. When you eat and drink carbohydrates and sugary foods and drinks, the bacteria that is present in plaque reacts with the carbohydrates and produces acid. This acid can wear away at the surface of the teeth, leading to cavities. When cavities form, plaque and bacteria are able to reach the dentine beneath the enamel and the process of tooth decay tends to speed up at this point. If left untreated, dental decay can enter the pulp of the tooth, which can lead to infection and considerable pain.
What foods are good for teeth?
Any food that contains sugar can contribute to tooth decay, so it is a good idea to eat sugar in moderation only. Try and avoid foods that contain large amounts of added sugar, such as candy, cookies, cakes and sugary soft drinks. When choosing meals and snacks, try and go for whole foods as much as possible. Fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes, dairy products and lean sources of protein are all good options. When it comes to maintaining your oral health, it can be helpful to limit the number of snacks that you consume throughout the day. Foods that form part of a meal tend to be less harmful than snacks because more saliva, which helps to wash away food debris and reduce the effect of acids, is produced during a mealtime.
How can we help?
Besides eating a healthy, balanced diet, we also recommend that you follow good oral hygiene habits at home. This means brushing your teeth at least twice a day, and flossing daily. We also encourage you to come in and see us for regular dental check-ups and cleans so that we can identify and resolve any issues before they become complicated.
At our practice, we really understand the importance of preventative dental care and love to educate our patients about how best to maintain healthy teeth and gums. We use the most up-to-date techniques and technologies when performing all procedures, and offer professional cleans with effective and minimally invasive equipment.
If you would like to find out more about our preventative maintenance care programme and what it includes, please have a look here.
If you would like to make an appointment to see us, please don’t hesitate to get in touch. Our team looks forward to helping you keep your teeth and gums healthy so that you can smile with confidence. We offer a comprehensive range of general dental services — to see a full list of the treatments that we provide, please have a look here.