They say you are what you eat — a principle that applies as much to your oral health as your overall health. Poor nutrition can lead to harmful dental diseases and painful problems, while good nutrition can strengthen your enamel and help you resist bad bacteria.
As we celebrate National Nutrition Month in March, let’s take a closer look at how nutrition impacts your oral health.
Let’s start by focusing on how poor nutrition damages your teeth and gums. First, though, it’s important to understand the difference between tooth decay and erosion. Tooth decay refers to caries or cavities. It is the loss of enamel due to dental plaque, which forms with the high intake of sugary foods and in the presence of bad bacteria. Tooth erosion, also known as demineralization, is the corrosion of enamel from highly acidic foods and liquids. It makes sense, then, that studies show a direct link between increased cavities and dental erosion and the consumption of high-sugar and acidic foods.
Your nutrition choices also impact your gum health, which contributes to periodontal diseases and may also be connected to cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, and lung diseases. Three common gum ailments that are a direct result of diet include:
- Gingivitis: In addition to causing tooth decay, plaque build-up also leads to inflamed gums, or gingivitis, which is an early sign of gum disease.
- Periodontitis: This serious gum infection damages the soft tissue around your teeth and may lead to tooth and bone loss if not properly treated. Again, it can develop if plaque builds up and hardens into tartar.
- Scurvy: This disease is caused by a severe deficiency of vitamin C and can lead to gum disease.
Based on this clear connection between nutrition and oral health, there are certain foods you should avoid.
Foods and beverages with a low pH value are acidic and can damage your teeth. They may also be high in sugar (fructose or sucrose) — a double whammy when it comes to your dental health! Some examples include candy, fruit juices (especially citrus-based), red wine, soft drinks, vinegar, and alcohol. When consuming these things, it’s important to eat them alongside foods or beverages with higher pH, and also brush and floss your teeth immediately after to remove any remaining particles.
Additionally, snacks that are high in carbohydrates often contain sugars and starches. Examples include cereal, potato chips, crusty breads, and popcorn.
Now, let’s focus on the best foods for your oral health.
You want to fill your plate with foods that are rich in vitamins, minerals, and fatty acids, such as vitamin A, B vitamins, vitamin C, vitamin D, vitamin E, and vitamin K2, as well as calcium, magnesium, iron, zinc, and phosphorus. Including these nutrients in your diet helps ensure that your mouth stays healthy!
Some mouth-healthy foods to eat are:
- Leafy greens like spinach and kale
- Beans, peas, and other legumes
- Fruits and vegetables
- Whole grains
- Cheese
Not only are these foods packed with the nutrients mentioned above, but they also help promote saliva flow, which has been shown to prevent tooth decay.
Good-for-you drinks include water, green tea, and unsweetened milk. Finally, if you need a snack between meals, grab something low in sugar and acidity, like nuts, seeds, raw vegetables, cheese, and crackers.
As you can see, strong oral health depends on both your nutrition choices and your dental care.
To know if your mouth is healthy, consider these key points:
- Your teeth are strong.
- No bleeding in the mouth.
- No areas of tenderness.
- You have neutral or good breath.
- No pain or achiness in the teeth or gums.
- No sores, abscesses, or discoloration.
We hope you’ll choose Maitland Ave Smile Co. for your family’s dental needs.
Call us at 407.834.0330 to schedule your appointment today! Check out our Dental Blog to learn more about topics like your family’s dental routine, dental anxiety, and more.