We all know that what you eat is a critical factor in how healthy you are. Food impacts your overall health and eating the right foods can make you feel better and even help you maintain a healthy weight. One factor that often gets overlooked is the impact of the foods you eat on your teeth.
Disease is able to progress faster and become more severe in people who eat a diet poor in nutrients. A poor diet can lead to dental problems such as tooth decay and gum disease.
If you are already eating a healthy, well-balanced diet, chances are you won’t need to make any major changes to improve your oral health. If you’ve been meaning to start eating better and want to improve the health of your teeth and gums, here are a few simple things you can start doing today.
Avoid Sugar – Almost all foods contain at least some amount of sugar, but many of them are important for a healthy diet. You should try to avoid excess sugar, and the FDA recommends you limit added sugar to 12.5 teaspoons a day. That includes sugary snacks such as:
- Soda
- Candy
- Cookies
- Other Sweets and Sweet Drinks
Eat a Well-Balanced Diet – A healthy diet for your teeth includes many of the same basic food groups you’ve always been told to eat such as:
- Fruits
- Vegetables
- Whole Grains
- Lean Proteins
- Low-Fat or Fat-Free Dairy
Drink Plenty of Water – A glass of water after each meal can help to get rid of leftover food debris from your teeth.
Limit Snacking – Eating and drinking in between meals isn’t good for your teeth. When you eat regular meals your body will produce more saliva to digest them and neutralize harmful acids.
In addition to healthy eating habits, the best thing you can do for your oral health is to visit your dentist regularly. Your local Chicago area dentist, University Associates in Dentistry, encourages you to schedule your free consultation and recommended action plan today by calling 312.704.5511.
