Everyone knows that sugar can harm your teeth. The consumption of sugar is well-known to lead to tooth decay, periodontal disease, and other oral health problems. But beyond those, your diet impacts your smile on a daily basis.
From the remnants of food left in the mouth over the course of a day to your body’s natural response to infection, the choices in what you eat can help your body maintain its health. Or they can lead to significant damage.
Today, your Newport Beach, CA dentist writes on your diet and why it is important for maintaining your oral healh.
Diet And Tooth Decay
The problem with consuming sugary foods is the pieces that are left in the mouth after consumption. Food particles build in the deeper recesses of the teeth, leaving food for bacterial growth. The bacterial colonies create corrosive acidic waste, which eats away at the tooth itself.
But a lot of our views on tooth decay come from movies and other media. Just because something doesn’t look like a particularly sweet item doesn’t mean that it can’t be just as dangerous.
Bacteria eat carbohydrates within the mouth, which means that things like bread can spur this growth. Late night bread is a big danger, as it tends to stick deeply in the teeth.
Vary Your Diet, When You Can
In order to operate efficiently, the body needs sufficient fuel. American diets, while rich in many ways, are also lacking in robustness. By monitoring the intake of food, you can ensure that you have all the necessary nutritional fuel for your immune system,
Beyond the issue of tooth decay, weaker immune systems can allow for periodontal disease, also known as gum disease, to grow and develop.
This leads to gum recession, where the tissue pulls back, exposing the tooth’s root. By leaving them exposed, the tooth is much more vulnerable to any infection. Periodontal disease and its complications are the leading cause of tooth loss.
Isn’t all this difficult?
Appropriate nutrition is highly achievable, with minimal changes to daily life. Always speak with your doctor before making any significant changes to your diet.
Initially, adequate water consumption is paramount. In order to successfully fight off infection, the body requires significant hydration.
And beyond that, when you drink water, you are less likely to drink another sugary drink. Even if you only drink sugar-free soft drinks, the acidity in them can harm your enamel.
Beyond that, a wide variety of fruits and vegetables are always great for your system. Each one brings a different set of benefits, so change up what you are eating when you can.
And with any oral health regimen, twice-daily brushing is key to maintaining a healthy smile. Daily flossing and an oral rinse are also highly suggested in order to maximize the cleanliness of the mouth.
Think When You Eat!
If you have any questions about how your diet impacts yout smile, or to schedule your appointment, please give Dr. Hofkes at Balboa Dental Surgery a call at (949)630-0143. Or stop by our office here in Newport Beach, CA!
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