Derek M. Busciglio, D.M.D., runs Busciglio Orthodontics in Florida. He knows that going to a dentist or an orthodontist alone cannot guarantee healthy teeth and gums. It also depends on your overall oral hygiene as well as the foods you eat. Here, he discusses how a healthy diet can play an important role in keeping your smile in good shape.
Like every complex machine, your body needs fuel to keep it running. However, the food you choose to fuel it — and the number of times a day you fuel up — will affect not only our overall weight and your general health, but also your teeth and your gums.
Eating patterns and food choices among children and teens are factors that affect how quickly youngsters may develop tooth decay. A healthy diet — meaning all the foods you eat each day — is key to preventing cavities and maintaining good oral health.
Acids Attack Enamel
As soon as certain foods enter your mouth, they begin a chain reaction as bacteria converts sugars from the foods you eat to acids. It is those acids that begin to attack the enamel on your teeth, starting the decay process.
Many dental experts recommend limiting sugar-filled sodas, sweetened fruit drinks and and certain foods including candy, pastries, French fries and dried fruit. These foods contain few nutrients, for the most part. But they do have large amounts of sugar that can stick to the teeth. Certain candies can stay on the teeth for a considerable period of time, and if they are not brushed away properly, they can cause long-term damage.
Good food choices include crunchy fruits like apples, pears, cheese, chicken, nuts and milk. They not only keep teeth healthy on the outside, but also do their job from the inside out.
Minimizing Decay
To minimize tooth decay, dental professional recommend brushing twice a day with fluoride toothpaste, flossing daily, visiting your dentist regularly, eating a balanced diet and limiting between-meal snacks.
The government recognizes that people need different foods,and different amounts of food, at different stages in their life. So it’s important to check with a healthcare professional to make sure you are getting the right nutrition you need to stay healthy. Knowing what foods are right for the different stages in your children’s lives is also key to good physical - and dental - health, as well as good mental health.
While many foods contain sugar as well as valuable nutrients, it’s also important to read the labels on foods to make sure you know what you are consuming. And remember that it can be hard to fight infection in the tissues in your mouth if you are lacking certain nutrients, which can lead to gum disease.
The information in the article is not intended to substitute for the medical expertise and advice of your healthcare provider. We encourage you to discuss any decisions about treatment or care with an appropriate healthcare provider.
