How Your Diet Affects Your Oral Health
How Your Diet Affects Your Oral Health
What you eat affects yoru smile in two ways: by coming in direct contact with it and by building it up from the inside. Our all-star dental team at Imagecare Dental Group is ready to help you discover your most incredible smile yet! Let's start by considering how your diet contributes to the health and beauty of your smile.
The Good Guys
When it comes to having a strong smile, vitamins really do count! Getting plenty of vitamin C in your diet strengthens your immune system and promotes healing. Eat plenty of strawberries and oranges to meet your Recommended Daily Allowance (RDA). Vitamin C is essential to keeping your gums healthy and resistant to gum disease.
Dairy products contain the minerals calcium and phosphorus, which your teeth need for strength. Cheddar cheese is a great snack choice because it also has properties that discourage cavities.
Foods high in fiber like whole grains and fresh fruits and vegetables help to naturally clean teeth and won't create sticky plaque the way sugary foods do.
The Bad Guys
Some foods may taste good, but are more likely to cause problems that will make your smile unattractive and unhealthy.
Staining foods:
- Red wine
- Coffee
- Tea
- Soda
Sticky foods (damaging to braces and prone to getting trapped between teeth):
- Dried fruits
- Stringy meat
- Seeds
- Popcorn
Acidic foods (foods that promote cavity-causing bacteria):
- Processed sugar
- Processed cakes, cookies, and breads
- Sports drinks
- Fruit juices
- Soda
- Citrus fruits
Watch Your Exposure to Sugar!
Most of the time, it's not about how much sugar you eat but rather how often you eat it. Sugary items contain an acid that weakens the protective enamel on teeth. Additionally, the bacteria that cause cavities love sugary carbohydrates. They eat the sugar you eat, and then they produce more acid that wears away the enamel even more, forming a cavity.
Processed sugars make the plaque bacteria that automatically grow in your mouth even stickier and more acidic. By replacing a lot of junk food with fresh options, you lower your chances of getting cavities. Drink lots of fresh water to keep your mouth cleansed and hydrated.
A Beautiful Plano Smile
Find your best smile at Imagecare Dental Group! It's never too late to make big changes in the health of your smile. Let our team help you get started when you schedule your free initial appointment as soon as possible!
