Tips for Improving Diet and Oral Health
How Does Diet Affect Oral Health?
Tooth decay and cavities are caused by acid that is produced by oral bacteria and food deposits on or in between your teeth. Certain foods – sugary, starchy, and sticky snacks – are linked to higher levels of such acid causing bacteria.
What Foods are Good for Oral Health?
· Protect and Make up Bone and Enamel
o Calcium-Rich Foods: beans, greens, milk, yogurt, and cheese.
o Research has shown that dairy products not only provide calcium, but also help reduce your risk of cavities
· Helps Absorb Calcium
o Vitamin D: milk, eggs, and fish
· Protect Enamel
o Phosphorus: meat, poultry, fish, milk, and eggs
o Vitamin A: sweet potatoes, liver, and spinach
· Promotes Healthy Gums and Quick Healing of Wounds
o Vitamin C: oranges, grapefruit, strawberries, kiwi and red and green peppers
· Promote Oral Health
o Vitamin B3: chicken and fish
o Vitamins B2 and B12: pasta, bagels, spinach, and almonds
o Iron: liver, red meat, bran cereal, and nuts
What Foods are Bad for Oral Health?
· Sugar fuels the bacteria that produce acid and cause tooth decay, so avoid excessive intake of candy, dessert, fruit and vegetable juices, and regular soda. Sugar-free diet soda is also bad for your teeth, as all types of soda contain acid that causes tooth erosion.
· Carbohydrates like chips, bread, pasta or crackers also promote acid-causing bacteria so they can be just as harmful to your teeth as sugar. When you eat carbohydrates, eat them as part of a meal because combinations of foods like cheese and crackers) can help neutralize acids.
· You should also avoid sticky, chewy foods like raisins, granola, bars, jellybeans, caramel, honey, and syrup. It is difficult for saliva to wash away these foods, so they can stay on the teeth and cause decay.
How Can I Maintain Good Nutrition?
Variety and moderation are the keys to healthy diet. Utilize the 5 major food groups. Limiting or eliminating one of these groups can lead to vitamin or mineral deficiency - which can impact your oral health.