March is National Nutrition Month, which means time to focus on our diets and evaluate our food choices. Nutritious foods are beneficial to your entire body, which includes your mouth! Your diet can directly correlate to your oral health, not to mention your mouth is the first stop for food, where the digestion process begins, and your body is exposed to the ingredients (good and bad).
Plaque Attack
Plaque is the sticky, slimy film that coats your teeth. It’s swarming with bacteria, and if not properly removed, it can cause tooth decay and other dental problems. Plaque that is not removed will eventually harden and turn into tartar (calculus), requiring removal by a dental professional.
Tooth decay is the result of plaque mixing with sugars from food. This combination creates acids that eat away at tooth enamel, eventually causing holes (cavities). A buildup of plaque can also lead to other dental problems such as periodontal (gum) disease or an oral abscess (infection).
Snacking Smartly
Snacking is often done out of habit or boredom. It’s easy to get carried away noshing on food all day without thinking twice. Constant eating throughout the day exposes your mouth to more acid-producing plaque. If you must snack frequently, choose foods that benefit oral health (more on that to come). Also, brushing or rinsing with water after snacking will help keep the plaque at bay, and potentially deter you from snacking some more.
Think Before You Eat & Drink
This is where you have the control! Your food choices are up to you and taking into consideration the effects that certain foods can have on your oral health might motivate you to make better choices. We’re only human and it’s okay to give into not so healthy cravings occasionally, but it shouldn’t be a regular thing.
Check out foods/drinks that are best and worst for your oral health.
The Good
- Dairy: Hard cheeses, milk, and yogurt are all great choices for your teeth because they are low in sugar and contain lots of calcium to build strong teeth.
- Fruits & veggies: The crunch packs the punch! Produce like apples, broccoli, carrots, cauliflower, celery, and leafy greens are not only healthy options, but they help scrub the teeth. Their crunchy texture stimulates saliva production.
- Leans proteins: Chicken, eggs, fish, and, meat are rich in phosphorous and high in protein. Just make sure you pick the lean stuff!
- Nuts: Raw is best! Eating an assortment of nuts is a healthy snack option because nuts are crunchy, low in carbs and sugar, and high in protein. They also contain healthy fats.
- Water: Drinking water should be a given. Water keeps your body running like a well-oiled machine. It cleanses the mouth and neutralizes acids.
- Whole grains: Say no to refined carbs like white bread. Whole grains contain nutrients like B vitamins, iron, and magnesium, which help keep teeth strong.
The Bad
- Alcohol: Blame it on the alcohol! Alcoholic beverages might take the edge off the stressors of life, but they sure stress out your mouth. Alcohol dries out the mouth, which can lead to tooth decay and oral infections.
- Candy: Long after the sugar high is gone, you might be left with cavities. There really isn’t any “good” candy to eat since it all contains high levels of sugar. Some of the worst offenders are taffy and caramels.
- Carbs: Calling all carboholics! The carbs that go crunch (cereal, chips, cookies, crackers, etc.) are not tooth-friendly. They embed themselves into the crevices of teeth and can cause plaque buildup.
- Citrus: But citrus is fruit, right? Although citrus fruits contain nutrients and vitamins, their level of acidity is not a match for tooth enamel. Always wait at least 30 minutes to brush your teeth after consuming anything acidic like orange juice.
- Soda: Probably your teeth’s worst nightmare, soda is a triple threat – acid, carbs, sugar. Soda is essentially empty calories that your body doesn’t reap any benefits from. Just Google what happens when a tooth is soaked in soda… It’s cringeworthy!
Not only will your mouth thank you, but you will probably feel better all-around by making nutritious food selections. Remember whole foods are best, and the more ingredients listed on a label, the less healthy.
If you have any questions or concerns regarding nutrition and your oral health, call us at 954-344-4488, or complete an online appointment request to schedule your consultation.