They say, ‘You are what you eat’, and it’s true for your body and spirit – even your oral health! Did you know that your oral health and your overall health correlate? This is true because what you eat determines the health of tissues in your mouth, and they, in turn, affect the nutrients absorbed through food. Hence, it is essential to maintain good oral health, but how will you keep it if you don’t know what’s good and bad?
Read along to learn how your diet can impact your oral health, helping you make better, healthier food decisions!
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Sugar is the Enemy
It always is. Sugary foods and beverages are the enemy for your overall health and, similarly, for your oral health! Such foods offer a boost to the harmful bacteria that can result in cavities and other dental problems. The longer your teeth are exposed to sugar, the worse the damage is caused. Hence, sugary treats such as toffees or gummies cause more damage. Combined with the bacteria, these foods generate acids that cause tooth enamel erosion. Therefore, eliminating or at least limiting sugar consumption is always better.
2. Strength of Calcium
Consuming milk and milk products provides calcium to the teeth. As we know, teeth are largely made up of calcium. Hence, consuming foods rich in calcium can help you restore tooth enamel. Even though all dairy products are suitable for teeth, cheese, in particular, is considered extremely healthy as it also produces more saliva, thus naturally cleansing the mouth.
3. Continuous Snacking
Snacking continuously or for longer periods can keep your mouth acidic, which is not good for your teeth. Every time you snack, the bacteria in your mouth feed on the leftover sugar intake, releasing harmful acids. Keeping your mouth in this state reduces the time frame for your teeth to recover their enamel, increasing the chances of dental problems. This also applies to healthy snacks.
The best way to snack healthily is to have a fixed snack time, choose healthy snacks, and rinse your mouth immediately after eating them.
4. Acidic Foods and Beverages
Acidic foods and beverages, such as pickles, sodas, and citrus fruits, easily wear down tooth enamel. A worn-out enamel leaves gums and teeth exposed to dental problems like cavities and decay. Hence, such products should be consumed in moderation, and proper aftercare should be taken.
5. Crunchy Fruits and Vegetables
Crunchy fruits and vegetables are nature’s toothbrush! Including them in your diet will keep your mouth and teeth clean and smelling fresh. Fruits like apples, pears, and guava and vegetables like carrots, celery, cucumber, etc., are sometimes adequately abrasive, which helps scrape away plaque from teeth without harming the enamel. They also boost saliva production, which further facilitates mouth cleansing and balances the acid levels in the mouth. If you choose healthy food, you can always consume these fruits and vegetables as a healthy snacking option.
6. Water Solves It All
You must have heard drinking enough water solves about 70 to 80% of your problems. Well, that’s true in the case of oral health, too! Drinking enough water at the right intervals or immediately after having food helps reduce a lot of potential harm.
Swishing with water after eating can help rinse away bacteria and leftovers that could have caused harm over time. It also generates saliva, which fights bad breath. Keeping your mouth hydrated also ensures proper blood flow, keeping your gums healthy.
7. Alcohol and Tobacco
Habits such as alcohol and tobacco are known to mess with oral health, too. Alcohol can result in a drier mouth, reducing saliva and eliminating its benefits. These drinks also have high acid levels, which damage teeth enamel. Beverages such as red wine or hard liquor can stain teeth and also be responsible for teeth discolouration over time.
Tobacco causes gum issues, rendering them weak and unhealthy. This makes tobacco users more prone to gum diseases and teeth loosening and loss. Tobacco also contributes to teeth and tongue discolouration and gives an unpleasant breath. It can even cause and worsen oral cancer.
Diet Tips For Healthy Oral Health
Sticky carbs are bad for your teeth, so snacks like chips and biscuits cause enamel damage. If you want to snack, opt for normal or lowly salted snacks rather than those spiced up with flavours, as these flavours and spices can also cause a buildup on your teeth.
Rinsing is simple and effective aftercare for teeth. No matter what you eat, rinsing your mouth clears any salt/sugar residues, preventing the risks of plaque and cavities.
Limit your consumption of fruit juices and smoothies. Like other aerated drinks, these also contain considerable amounts of sugar even though they are tagged as ‘healthy drinks’. Many protein shakes or energy drinks have disguised sugar elements that can cause long-term damage. Even if you have such beverages, pairing them with a meal is best.
Another tip for good oral health is chewing sugar-free gum. It can help you generate more saliva and clean your teeth.
When you eat acidic foods, avoid brushing your teeth immediately afterwards. This is because acidic foods wear down your teeth’ enamel, and brushing immediately after that can cause erosion. You should wait at least 30-60 minutes after having any citrus-based foods or soda.
Final Words
It is essential to take care of your oral health. Neglecting this basic health element can cause many more health issues in the future. A healthy you starts from a healthy mouth. Cutting down on sugar and building healthy eating habits will not happen in a day, but it’s about time you start taking those baby steps!
By remembering all the above pointers and making slight changes to your diet, you can begin a new oral health journey. Start today—you can do this!
