The Impact of Food and Drink on Dental Health

Preventing cavities involves more than brushing your teeth—good oral health also requires a balanced diet. We all know that soda and candy cause tooth decay, but what about healthy foods like tomatoes and apples? The moment any food enters your mouth, you’re exposing your teeth to acids that wear down your enamel. The more you eat, the more your teeth become exposed to cavities.

Eating a balanced diet and brushing your teeth is essential to maintaining good oral health. Visit your dentist regularly to check up on your teeth and get advice on how to maintain a healthy mouth for your lifetime.

Eat the Right Foods

As it turns out, certain foods can actually help your oral hygiene. Foods high in calcium and phosphorus, like cheese, meat, nuts, and milk, are thought to rebuild the damaged enamel of your teeth. Vegetables and firm fruits, like apples and pears, are also good to eat because their high water content weakens the damaging effects of sugar.

Unfortunately, much of the food we eat hurts more than it helps. Bread, bananas, citrus fruits, tomatoes, baked goods, chips, and candy all coat your teeth in sugar. The bacteria in your mouth take that sugar and turn it into acid, and it’s the acid that attacks your enamel.  Avoid sugar as much as possible.

This doesn’t mean you can’t eat the foods you love. It does mean, however, that you need to eat your foods in moderation. Try mixing acidic fruits like oranges into a salad with spinach and nuts. The more food groups you include in each meal, the healthier your mouth will be.

Schedule an Appointment with Your Dentist

Brushing your teeth is just as important as eating the right foods. Dentists recommend that you brush your teeth after each meal, or at least twice a day, and floss at least once a day. In addition to that, visit your dentist at least twice a year to significantly reduce your chances of tooth decay.

If you are interested in finding out more about how food and drink impact your dental health, contact our Westerville dentists through our website or call us directly at 614-882-1135. Westerville Dental Associates standard is to be the very best at providing our patients “optimal care”, while making them “Feel Right at Home”.