Everyone is aware that a healthy diet translates to a healthier, stronger body. The foods you choose to eat and how often you eat them will impact your overall health. Diet also affects your oral health.
It is always important to make sure to brush your teeth and floss every day to remove food particles. Without these daily activities, as well as regular visits to the dentist, You’ll run the risk of cavities, periodontal disease, tooth loss, and more.
What foods to avoid
Tooth decay is fairly common. Eating a healthy diet and avoiding foods high in sugar and acids can have a positive effect on reducing the frequency and severity of dental decay. Too many overly acidic foods (such as citrus fruits), foods with added sugar, and sugar-laden sticky foods, all play a role in damaging and weakening tooth enamel, making your teeth more susceptible to dental decay.
To help reduce oral health issues, control the amount of sugar you eat and choose low-sugar or sugar-free options if possible. Avoid significant amounts of soft drinks(even diet soft drinks as they are often high in acids), candy, pastries, or cookies. If you do have sugar on occasion, brush, or at least rinse your teeth shortly after eating.
The longer the sugar sits on your teeth and interacts with plaque, the more prone you are to developing tooth decay. Popular energy drinks are often very high in sugar and acid and can be very destructive to tooth enamel.
What foods to eat
For good oral health, be sure to drink plenty of water. When it comes to choosing snacks and meals, eat a variety of foods that range from whole grains, vegetables and fruits, and lean sources of meat, or fish.
Avoid excessive snacking, and instead, try to eat most of your foods as part of a meal. It is prolonged, repeated exposure of the teeth to offending food and drink that is most destructive.
To keep your teeth healthy and help avoid gum disease, always try to floss and brush at least twice a day with a fluoride-containing toothpaste. In addition to this, stay on top of your dental appointments and have your teeth cleaned and checked on a regular basis as recommended by your dentist and dental hygienist.
With regular dental care, your dentist will be able to point out potential oral problems and treat them before they get out of hand. Creekside Dental has been serving the Vancouver area and Clark County at large for more than 25 years.
In addition to regular dental hygiene, we also perform cosmetic and general dentistry, including crowns, veneers, dentures, whitening, and root canals. If you have questions or concerns with your teeth, or it’s time to schedule an appointment, contact Creekside Dental today.
