Designing Your Diet for Good Oral Health

Proper dental hygiene and the management of your oral health does not simply stop with regular brushing and flossing. In order to fully commit to keeping your teeth beautiful and healthy, it is important to understand what sort of diet promotes a healthy smile. Continue reading to learn more about the right foods to eat to maintain good oral health.

Avoiding Sugar

The first thing to keep in mind is that it is important to avoid foods and beverages that contain a considerable amount of sugar. Carbonated beverages and candy are just two examples of foods that promote an acidic and dangerous environment in the mouth. When foods with a high-sugar content are not properly removed from the surface from the teeth, the enamel of the tooth is broken down, and the tooth structure begins to experience decay. If left untreated, the decay has the potential to progress, causing pain and sensitivity for the individual.

Fruits and Vegetables

We all know that fruits and vegetables have various health benefits for our bodies. What many people do not know is that fruits and vegetables have natural cleansing properties, and have a “detergent”-like effect on the mouth. Fruits and vegetables also stimulate saliva; saliva helps neutralize acids and starches in the mouth, which acts as a natural defense against cavities and further decay.

Dairy Products

Growing up, it is likely that you heard this line from your mother: “drink your milk so that your bones can become nice and strong!”. Many of us spent many meals getting up-close and personal with a glass of milk for this very reason. The honest truth is that mother was right; milk, cheese, and other dairy products are excellent sources of calcium, and are considered some of the best food to eat to best manage your oral health. In addition to providing nutrients and minerals crucial to the development and maintenance of your teeth, dairy products also stimulate saliva.

Fluoride

Though there may be a heavy amount of debate circling the topic of fluoride treatments on the teeth, it is clinically proven that fluoride helps strengthen and protect the tooth enamel. Many cities opt to have fluoride added to the drinking water in order to promote good dental health. In addition to your regularly scheduled appointments with your dental hygienist during which you can opt to have a fluoride treatment done, ensuring that you are drinking water that has been treated with fluoride is an excellent way to keep the tooth structure strengthened.

With a properly planned diet, you will be able to maintain a healthy and happy smile. Cutting out sugar and acidic foods and instead turning to fruits, vegetables, and dairy products is a small change that has the potential to make a big impact. Going forward with the information you learned here, work with your dentist and dental hygienist to design a healthy diet that will best suit you, your lifestyle, and your teeth. You would be surprised how easy it is to care for your teeth with a delicious and nutritious diet!

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