With Thanksgiving so closely behind us and more holidays just on the horizon, we want to take time to educate our patients about preventive dentistry and how your diet can affect the health of your teeth. The meal you ate in observance of the holiday last week was chewed with your teeth – did you eat more stuffing and cheesecake than you did green beans and turkey? Should you change your diet to help your teeth? We know how delicious it is, but if this is a regular meal for you, you could be harming your teeth with the food you’re consuming.
Maintaining A Healthy Diet
When you have bacteria in your mouth and you consume sugars, acid is produced that can eat away at your teeth. This acid causes tooth decay – and is one of the primary reasons you should maintain a healthy diet to protect your teeth. In addition to sugars, if your diet lacks nutrients, your mouth becomes more susceptible to infection.
Maintaining a balanced diet that consists of fruits, vegetables, minimal starch and sugars, lean protein, etc. will keep your mouth away from dangerous and unwanted bacteria.
How Can You Prevent Decay?
Changing your diet isn’t the only way to prevent your teeth from cavities, decay, and loss. Preventive dentistry, practicing good oral hygiene throughout your lifetime, is a guaranteed way to keep your teeth healthy.
Good oral hygiene consists of brushing and flossing your teeth twice per day, usually first thing in the morning and before bedtime. It won’t hurt if you add an extra brushing and flossing around lunch time either, but it’s not necessary – just an extra preventive!
Lastly, visiting your dentist once or twice per year (depending on your mouth and what your dentist recommends for you) for professional cleanings and check-ups to ensure your mouth is the healthiest it can be!
