Diet has a strong influence on oral health and eating a healthy diet can really help to keep dental diseases at bay. Here are 3 healthy diet tips to keep your teeth and gums healthy and strong:
- Keep an eye on your sugar consumption: sugar is the enemy when it comes to oral health because it causes bacteria in the mouth to feed and release harmful acids, which attack the enamel. Try to avoid eating a lot of sugary foods and washing them down with fizzy pop or energy drinks, especially between meals and always wait an hour before brushing your teeth after eating. If you have a sweet tooth, try to go for natural alternatives, such as fruit, yoghurt and frozen yoghurt.
- Watch out for ‘healthy’ products: many drinks and snacks, which are branded as healthy alternatives to junk food and confectionary are actually packed with hidden sugars. Look out for shop-bought smoothies, fruit juices and cereal bars and read the labels carefully. Smoothies are a really healthy option if you mane them yourself at home, but commercial products are often laden with sugar and sometimes contain more than fizzy drinks. Fruit juice is often very sugary and it is also very acidic, which is harmful for the tooth enamel; if you’re a fan of juice, try diluting it and avoid drinking it between meals.
- Hit your RDA of calcium every day: calcium is really important for healthy teeth and bones and it’s important to get your recommended daily intake every day. Good sources of calcium include milk, cheese, nuts, soya beans, leafy green vegetables and yoghurt. Adults need around 700mg per day, while children need around 1,000mg per day.
In order to prevent the loss of your natural teeth, it is crucial that you take great care of your gums and avoid periodontal disease. Negligence of your gums may lead to periodontal disease, also known as gingivitis. In severe cases, gingivitis progresses into periodontitis which most certainly leads to tooth loss.
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There has always been a suspected link between heart disease and gum disease but the evidence of recent studies has seemingly conclusively proved this connection. Patients with bad cases of gum disease were twice as likely to suffer from serious heart conditions, so cleaning your teeth and having healthy gums really could save your life.
