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Your Diet and Your Teeth

When it comes to taking care of your body, most people tend to focus on exercise and dieting. While both of these are great areas of focus, there is another area that is often overlooked and neglected: the mouth. Everything that goes into your body enters through the mouth, which makes your mouth a super important component to pay attention to. What you choose to eat and drink affects the health of your mouth as well as the rest of your body. Tooth decay is the single most chronic childhood disease, and it affects millions of Americans each year – yet tooth decay is entirely preventable, and it all starts with your diet.

Millions of bacteria live inside your mouth, and they thrive off of the foods that you eat. Every time you enjoy a meal or beverage other than water, tiny particles are left behind inside your mouth. The bacteria that live inside your mouth immediately go to work to help break down these particles, and as they begin working to do their job they begin producing acids. It is the acids created by the bacteria that will wreak havoc on the mouth.

When it comes to the food particles inside your mouth, that bacteria are most attracted to particles with the highest sugar contents. Because the bacteria will congregate in extremely high numbers around sugar particles, there will be more acid produced in these spots. These acids will quickly dissolve the sugars, but will then be left attacking your teeth and gums. And over-consumption of sugary foods only promotes the damage that is done by oral bacteria. Choosing to limit your sugar intake is a huge advantage to taking care of your teeth and preventing cavities and decay.

A healthy diet (for your teeth and entire body) consists of:

  • Drinking water – at least 8, 8 oz. glasses per day; especially at meal time
  • Fruits and vegetables in their natural forms
  • Whole grains
  • Lean sources of meat
  • Dry beans
  • Legumes
  • Low-fat dairy products

At Sycamore Hills Dentistry, we understand the direct relationship between your diet and your teeth. We want to encourage you to make wise decisions and to limit the amount of sugar that you eat in order to promote optimal oral health.

Posted on behalf of Sycamore Hills Dentistry