Besides filling out your smile and playing a huge role in its appearance, your teeth also serve several important functions, like processing your food every time you eat. Because of their role, your teeth can be highly influenced by the content of what you eat. For better or worse, your diet and eating habits can be a significant aspect of your overall oral health care. Today, we examine a few of those habits and how they can affect your immediate and long-term oral health.
Facts About Food and Teeth
- Substance is everything – Most of what you hear about food and your oral health involves warnings. For instance, don’t eat too much sugar or you may get cavities; don’t chew on hard foods too often or you can damage your teeth. However, the substance of what you eat determines whether or not it’s harmful. Healthy foods that are rich in calcium, vitamin D, and other essential minerals and nutrients are actually necessary for your teeth and gums to remain healthy.
- So is timing – The frequency with which you eat and snack throughout the day also plays a vital role in whether or not you’re endangering your teeth. You may be okay if you indulge in sweets once in a while, and brush or rinse your teeth soon afterward. Yet, if you eat candy and snacks multiple times a day, then each time multiplies the threat to your teeth. Plan your meals and snacks strategically to limit the temptation to keep snacking constantly and expose your teeth to harmful substances.
- You can boost or mitigate the effects – Your diet alone isn’t enough to keep your smile healthy. Even with healthy, nutrient-rich meal plans and a responsible snacking habit, you still need to brush your teeth at least twice and floss at least once every day to stop harmful oral bacteria from accumulating. These microbes feed on the nutrients in your food, metabolizing them into substances such as acids, toxins, and other substances that attack your teeth and gum tissues. Keeping your teeth clean of bacteria is the most effective way of preventing them from turning your food into threats against your oral health.
Learn More About Caring for Your Smile
The fact that food influences your oral health is sometimes obvious, but exactly how those influences affect your smile isn’t always as clear. For more information, schedule a visit by calling Syosset Dental in Syosset, NY today at 516-433-2211 or 516-921-1678.
