How does Your Diet Affect Your Oral Health?
by Dr. Satish Pai
Who else wants whiter teeth and fresher breath?
“You are what you eat” is a famous proverb which was true then and is still true now. Our diets affect our bodies and immune systems and can cause a lot of unnecessary health hazards. Our eating habits affect our dental health to a large extent. Most dentists nowadays are more worried about their patients eating and drinking non-nutritious sugary foods and
drinks than anything else.
Your food choices and eating patterns define how quickly you begin to develop cavities and how soon you need to seek out oral health care. Lacking a few essential nutrients in your diet makes it a lot more difficult for the tissues in your mouth to fight off infections. This can lead to periodontal disease which is a major cause of loss of teeth in adults. Having a poor diet can increase the rate that this disease progresses.
Here are 7 foods that promote good oral health care:
- Fruits, Juices and Dairy Products
It is important that you increase your intake of fruits, vegetables and dairy products if you want to strengthen your teeth and bones and avoid tooth decay. These foods are great as they are low in sugar, rich in calcium and vitamin D and also have a high water and fiber content. - Cheese
Research has proven that eating cheese can prevent tooth decay as it increases the pH level in your mouth and makes it less acidic. Acid is harsh on your teeth and the more of it you have in your mouth, the higher your chances of tooth decay. Eating cheese is a great way to counter-act the effect of highly acidic foods like citrus fruit. Cheese also has certain compounds that form a protective coating on your teeth and protect them from bacteria and decay. - Raw Vegetables, Fruits and Nuts
Eating these protects you from bad breath by maintaining a balanced pH level of mouth. It is important that you increase your intake fruits, vegetables and dairy products if you want to increase strengthen your teeth and bones and avoid your tooth decay. Fruits and vegetables are low in sugar and also have a high water and fiber content. - Cranberries, Blueberries, Raspberries, Red Cabbage and Black Rice
Anthocyanins work by preventing the growth of pathogens on your oral tissues. Cranberries, blueberries, raspberries, red cabbage and black rice are great for your teeth due to their high content of anthocyanins. It should come as no surprise that manufacturers are using cranberry extract to create mouthwashes to protect the users from cavities. - Green tea
Green tea is very rich in polyphenols which are important compounds in fighting the number of bacteria and pathogens in the mouth. Green tea has also got properties of fluoride which helps in strengthening your teeth. - Sea food
Sea food is low in calories and is naturally rich in nutrients which are good for your brain as well as your heart. Given all the benefits it holds, it should come as no surprise that seafood is good for your health as well. Seafood is filled with naturally occurring fluoride which is great for your teeth as most of your water comes from a
non-fluoridated source. - Foods with Natural Raisins
Naturally sweet raisins are rich in phytochemicals such as oleanolic acid that prevents two species of oral bacteria from causing cavities and gum disease. Include natural raisins in your daily diet and you will realize that there is a big difference and improvement in your oral health.
Having unaligned teeth increases your risk of suffering from tooth decay. This problem increases when your gums don’t fit properly around your teeth, leaving more room for bacteria to grow.
This creates difficulty in cleaning your teeth. This may require you to seek out orthodontic treatment to have your teeth straightened. Having your teeth straightened will improve your oral health as well as improving your overall health.
Author Bio: Dr. Satish Pai – an Ivy League trained dentist and a faculty at Columbia University, believes that a perfect smile not only makes a person look great but feel great while boosting confidence.
As the founder of Putnam Orthodontics, he is dedicated to not only creating perfect smiles for his patients but also educating people with his engaging articles about all things related to a perfect smile and oral health. Spending time with his family always brings a smile on his face. In his free time, you can find him golfing, doing yoga or surfing.
