How Dieting Affects Your Dental Health
When you decide to buckle down on your diet to drop a few pounds, you have one goal in mind: losing weight. What you might not actually consider is how your diet plan impacts your oral health as well. This can be either for the better or for the worse, but it’s definitely something that you should keep in mind. Here are a few examples of what we frequently see in patients that are changing their eating habits:
By paying closer attention to what you’re eating, you’ll begin choosing less of some types of foods and more of others. For instance, you will probably consume fewer carbohydrates and sugars, and more fresh fruits and vegetables. Fresh, crispy produce will actually wipe some of the biofilm away from your teeth as you eat it.
Increased Cavities
How can a diet increase your tooth decay levels if you’re eating healthier? Well, the truth is that many “diet” drinks are actually worse on your teeth. Diet sodas, artificial sweeteners and even sports drinks are highly carcinogenic – meaning they can cause extensive tooth decay. Instead of choosing something because it has fewer calories, keep a refillable water bottle with you and drink tap water when at all possible. Tap water has mineral levels that support strong teeth and bones, plus it doesn’t have an altered pH level that many bottled waters do.
Increasing your fiber and vitamin intake will improve the health of your gum tissues. Dieting can be great if you’re fighting periodontal disease!
If you have questions about certain types of foods and how they relate to your teeth, Dr. Paul Mathew is more than happy to help. He can also recommend supplements or alternatives to nutritional choices that may help your smile even more. Give us a call today!