How Foods Affect Our Teeth

What you eat impacts not only your general health but also your oral health, in fact, if your nutrition is poor the first signs often show up in your mouth. We believe in eating for healthy teeth. Sticking to a nutritious diet that is low in sugar, high in fiber, includes lots of fruits and vegetables and drinking plenty of water are recommended for general good health and well-being. Here are a list of foods and how they impact your oral health.

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Dairy

Cheese actually stimulates saliva and is rich in calcium influencing the balance of re-calcifying teeth and protecting against loss of calcium. Consuming cheese after a sugary snack prevents increase in acidity.

Milk contains lactose, which is less acid producing than other sugars and does not promote decay as readily. In addition, it also contains calcium, phosphorus, and casein, all of which help stop decay. However bottle-feeding babies at night can cause decay.

Plant Foods

Plant foods are fibrous and protect teeth by mechanically stimulating saliva. Peanuts, hard cheeses, and gum that contains xylitol can act the same way.

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Nuts & Seeds

Nuts and seeds replenish the minerals to the tooth enamel that acids remove.

Tea

Black and green teas are particularly rich in polyphenols and flavonoids, which are complex antioxidant compounds found in many plant foods. The fluoride in black tea may also protect against decay.

Soft Drinks

Soft drinks or pop are the leading source of added sugar among kids and teens. They are loaded with sugar. Most soft drinks have phosphoric and citric acids that wear away tooth enamel.

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Chocolate

There is some evidence that cocoa, in an unrefined form without added sugars, may have some anti-decay potential, but processed chocolate is too high in sugar to be good for the teeth.

Here are some tips for maintaining healthy teeth:

  • Eat sugary foods with meals. Your mouth makes more saliva during meals. This helps to reduce the effect of acid production and to rinse pieces of food from the mouth.

  • Limit between-meal snacks. If you crave a snack, choose something nutritious. Think about chewing sugarless gum afterward to increase saliva flow and wash out food and acid.

  • Drink more water. Fluoridated water can help prevent tooth decay. If you choose bottled water, check the label for the fluoride content.

  • Brush your teeth twice a day and floss daily.

HealthDr. Matthew TronconeComment