|
Sure, it's important to brush twice a day, floss once a day, rinse with mouthwash and visit your dentist, but there is much more you can do to help keep your smile healthy. Eating nutritious and mouth-friendly foods doesn't just help your teeth, gums, tongue and cheeks, but your entire body, too! Growing evidence suggests there is a connection between oral health and certain medical conditions including heart disease, stroke, diabetes, respiratory disease and preterm births. That's why eating a smile-friendly diet is so important!
|
|
Each time you eat foods that contain sugar, your teeth are attacked by acid for at least 20 minutes! |
|
|
|
Limit Snacking
Between Meals
When the sugars in foods mix with certain bacteria in the mouth, acid is created. Eating throughout the day constantly exposes your teeth to these acids that wear down the protective outer layer—the enamel—of your teeth. If you find you must a have a “little something” to hold you over, choose a snack that is low in sugar.
|
|
|
Drink a soft drink in one sitting—don't sip it!
Sipping allows the sugars and acids in soft drinks to continually coat your teeth and wear away the enamel. Drink soft drinks with a straw positioned toward the back of the mouth and be sure to rinse your mouth with water. Wait at least an hour before brushing so there's less risk of breaking down the already weakened enamel.
|
|
|
|
Stay away from sticky foods.
They fill in every nook and cranny in your teeth, are hard to remove and can loosen your dental work. Even foods like potato chips can easily become lodged between the spaces in your teeth. Be sure to brush and rinse after you indulge.
|
If you're going to eat sweets, eat them with a meal.
When you're eating a meal, extra saliva is produced in your mouth. This saliva helps break down the harmful acids that attack tooth enamel and helps rinse away the sugars. |
|
Drink water throughout the day.
Water helps rinse the mouth and is a healthy alternative to sugary juices, soft drinks and other beverages. Drinking water helps not only your oral health, but your overall health as well! |
|
Don't chew ice.
Your teeth are designed to last a lifetime, but they were made for food only. Chewing ice can cause fracture lines, cracks and chips, which can make the teeth more sensitive and lead to further damage. It can also damage any dental work you may have, leading to pain and costly repairs. Try sugarfree gum instead. |
|
Munch on
aged cheese.
The calcium in cheeses like aged cheddar, parmesan and Swiss may help protect tooth enamel from decay and also increases saliva |
|
|
*American Dental Association, 2007.
|
|
|
| |
What happens in your mouth.
When you eat, food particles combine with bacteria and produce plaque acids that can break down enamel. Just one more reason to eat a smile-friendly diet!
What else do I need to know about my dental diet? A healthy dental diet is one that consists of foods from each of the food groups such as fruits and vegetables; breads, cereals and grains; meat, poultry and fish; and milk, cheese and yogurt. It is important to eat a variety of foods and to stay away from candy, soft drinks and foods high in sugar.
A few tooth-friendly food tips: Typically, it is better to consume starchy foods, such as potato chips, as part of a meal rather than as a stand-alone snack. This will enable more saliva to be released, which helps to wash food away and weaken plaque acid. Some fruits and soft drinks are highly acidic, which in large quantities can wear away tooth enamel. A good way to lessen the effects is to make sure that you don't brush immediately after you eat or drink while your enamel is weakened. Calcium is a very important nutrient for strong bones and teeth. Make sure you are consuming enough dairy products and dark green, leafy vegetables that are high in calcium.
|
|
|
|
|
|
