It should come as no surprise that the foods you eat can either positively or negatively impact your oral and overall health. Enjoy eating lots of candy and potato chips? Get ready for your waistband to expand and your teeth to become decayed. Prefer to snack on fruits and vegetables? Watch as your body reaps the reward of healthy vitamins and minerals and your gums maintain their beautiful pink color. It can be easy to deviate from what we know is good for us and instead, choose options that simply satisfy our cravings. Unfortunately, this can backfire when it comes to gum disease, which is why your dentist is happy to provide food recommendations that will keep both your mouth and body on track.
Fruits and Vegetables
This might seem like a no-brainer, especially if you’ve heard your entire life how important it is to incorporate fruits and vegetables into your diet. Not only are they beneficial to your overall health, but they’re great for reducing your risk for tooth decay, cavities, and gum disease.
Hard, crunchy vegetables like celery or carrots can serve to scrub away bacteria as well as stimulate saliva production in your mouth. This works to flush out any food particles that are attempting to stick to the chewing surfaces of your teeth and be harmful to your mouth.
Dark, leafy greens contain Vitamin C and calcium, both of which combat gum disease and reduces inflammation. Also, don’t forget about foods such as broccoli, onions, pepper, or sweet potatoes, as these can fight bacterial growth that causes plaque.
When choosing fruits, be mindful to eat these in moderation, as they do contain sugar. Although not the same as a candy bar, the sugar content can still lead to tooth decay if you’re not careful.
Dairy Products
Cheese, yogurt, milk, and even cottage cheese are great for receiving your calcium intake each day. They also help to neutralize acids that can be harmful to your teeth and gums. When at the grocery store, make sure to read the labels and purchase low-sugar or sugar-free products.
Lean Proteins
Whether you’re a meat-eater or not, there are various ways to incorporate protein into your diet. For those who don’t mind, meat, poultry, fish, and eggs are ideal sources of protein and can help to strengthen your teeth. If you prefer to remain meat-free or just want to incorporate additional protein into your meal plan, nuts, beans, and seeds contain healthy fiber and minerals that will keep your teeth and gums decay and disease-free.
Water
Not enough can be said of how good water is for your body. Not only does it keep you hydrated and your kidneys functioning at optimal speed, but it greatly benefits your oral health, too. By keeping the mouth moist and increasing your saliva production, the harmful bacteria and food particles in your mouth will be flushed out, thus, reducing your likeliness for gum disease.
Don’t let the foods you eat cause problems for your health. Instead, choose options that will benefit your smile and your body in the long run.
About the Author
Dr. Christine Laster earned a bachelor’s degree in biology from American University, graduating Magna Cum Laude. She then went on to attend the National Institutes of Health where she continued her biology education. Once she completed her degree, she attended the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill School of Dentistry where she graduated with Honors and received the Diagnosis and Treatment Planning Award. Passionate about helping those in need, she has spent much of her career working with both children, adults, and members of the underprivileged community. To learn more about how Dr. Laster can help you achieve a beautiful, healthy smile, contact us via the website or by calling (919) 787-0355.