Your diet is not only essential to your overall health and sense of wellbeing, but it can also impact your dental health? At Main Street Dental Smiles, we encourage our valued patients to maintain healthy diets for long-term healthy smiles. We’re happy to provide you with nutritional tips and are here to support your oral health every step of the way!
Nutrition and Your Oral Health
Did you know that more than 90 percent of adults in America have at least one cavity, and more than 50 percent have periodontal (gum) disease? Consuming a smile-healthy diet plays a significant role in preventing dental problems and provides your teeth and gums with the essential nutrients needed to stay healthy.
What Foods and Beverages Should You Limit?
Let’s start with sugar. Candies and donuts aren’t the only culprits. You may be surprised to know that even cough drops and fruit juices contain plenty of sugar. Consuming sugary foods and beverages provides harmful oral bacteria with a plentiful food source. As they feast, they produce acids that erode the tooth enamel, leading to tooth decay. Sugary treats also promote plaque accumulation, the leading cause of periodontal disease.
It’s important to limit sticky and chewy foods that linger in your teeth’s grooves and crevices, providing harmful bacteria with the perfect environment to flourish. Moreover, starchy foods such as white bread and potato chips form a pasty substance that sticks in and between your teeth, increasing the risk of tooth decay.
We encourage you to limit acidic foods and drinks, which can erode your tooth enamel, increasing the risk of tooth decay, tooth sensitivity, and discoloration. You also need to steer away from carbonated drinks, which are not only loaded with sugar but are also highly acidic, posing a double threat to your oral health. Be careful when eating crunchy or hard foods, which can crack or chip your teeth, allowing bacteria to enter the inner layers and wreak havoc on your oral health.
What Are Smile-Healthy Food Choices?
Make sure you maintain a nutritious, balanced diet rich in fruits and vegetables, whole grains, low-fat dairy products, lean meats, and plenty of water. If you’re craving a snack, try to avoid reaching out for a sugary or processed treat. Opt for a healthy alternative, such as a slice of fresh fruit, some raw vegetables, cheese, or nuts. A healthy diet with plenty of essential vitamins and minerals will enhance your oral and overall health.
Quality Preventive Dentistry Services Near Me
Visit Main Street Dental in Whitesboro, TX, to learn more about healthy nutrition for long-term healthy smiles. Our team is a proponent of prevention rather than treating dental problems after they develop. We are pleased to offer quality preventive services to keep dental disease at bay. Call us at 903-564-3451 and schedule your appointment today!