Just as our body reacts differently to various foods, our teeth react in a similar fashion as our body does to various foods. Some foods may have a positive impact on your teeth and some may have a negative impact on your teeth.
Along with foods, your eating habits also play a vital role in the overall wellbeing and longevity of your natural teeth. Continued and frequent consumption of foods that have high carbohydrate, acid, or sugar content (junk foods) can lead to erosion of the enamel (protective layer of teeth) and cause caries. Some examples of these foods are fruit juices, sodas, pastries, etc. Soft drinks are not only loaded with sugar but have a high acidic content as well and can wreak havoc on your teeth. If you are currently following a diet high in sugar, please reach out to a dentist in Calgary.
The biggest impediment to your overall dental and general wellbeing is sugar. It is estimated that an average Canadian consumes up to 40 kg of sugar each year. If sugar is allowed to cling to your teeth for too long it leads to the accumulation of bacteria that eventually produce acids that harm your enamel. Some simple dietary modifications can go a long way in improving your dental health. Some points that you may want to implement are:
- Reduce the amount of sugar in your tea or coffee.
- Avoiding sugary drinks like sodas or fruit juices.
- Avoiding sticky sweets as they tend to cling to your teeth and having sweets during a meal instead of as a snack.
- Brushing your teeth after consuming sweets, or rinsing your mouth if brushing is not possible.
- Consuming teeth-friendly foods and beverages like cheese, hard-boiled eggs, pumpkin seeds, buttermilk, etc.
- Avoiding snacking in between meals will also lead to an overall improvement in general and dental health.
Very few people know that poor food habits can not just cause caries or gum disease, but also affect your overall wellbeing. When you are experiencing discomfort due to gum disease or cavities, you would tend to avoid foods that are difficult to chew like meat and vegetables, and prefer unhealthy foods that require little chewing. Apart from experiencing discomfort, poor oral health may also lead to low self-esteem as you may not be able to smile as freely as you may desire.
Being vigilant about the foods we consume and switching to a diet rich in vegetables, especially cruciferous vegetables and making water your preferred drink can lead to your natural teeth giving you many years of trouble-free service. Please reach out to a dentist in Calgary to discuss your current food habits and how you can improve them to attain optimal holistic well-being.
Helen Bradfield did her degree in psychology at the University of Edinburgh. She has an ongoing interest in mental health and well-being.
