How Your Diet Affects Oral Health: Tips from Dentist in Medicine Hat

Everyone knows that brushing twice daily and flossing once daily is important for maintaining good dental health. Hopefully, you also go to a professional dentist in Medicine Hat for your half-yearly checkup. However, maintaining a healthy mouth and teeth requires more than just a thorough dental care routine; you must also eat correctly. Diet is essential in maintaining oral health.

The foods we eat and avoid can be the difference between two rows of healthy teeth and a mouth full of cavities. To assist you in making the best decision possible, we will examine how diet impacts your dental health and how dentists provide patients with diet suggestions.

Understanding the Link Between Diet and Oral Health

Several aspects of oral health can be impacted by dietary decisions, such as:

Tooth Decay

Tooth decay can be triggered by foods and beverages heavy in sugar and carbs, such as pastries, sodas, and candy. Cavities are caused by acids developed by oral bacteria that consume carbohydrates and degrade tooth enamel. Furthermore, if not thoroughly cleaned, sticky foods like caramel and dried fruits can stick to teeth and increase the risk of decay. 

Acid Degradation

Citrus fruits, fruit juices, and carbonated drinks are acidic meals and drinks that can gradually erode tooth enamel. Acidic meals may damage the enamel layer that protects teeth, increasing the risk of decay and sensitivity. Acid erosion can be reduced by lowering the consumption of acidic foods and rinsing the mouth with water afterward.

Gum Disease

A diet lacking vital nutrients, especially vitamin C, might impair immunity and increase the risk of gum infection. Additionally, diets that are low in fibre and heavy in refined carbs can aggravate gum disease by causing inflammation. Eating crunchy fruits and vegetables might help clean the teeth and gums by increasing saliva production.

Oral Cancer

Specific dietary factors, such as extra alcohol consumption and tobacco usage, are linked with an enhanced risk of oral cancer. Oral cancer risk may also be increased by a diet deficient in fruits and vegetables, which are high in phytonutrients and antioxidants. According to Medicine Hat Dental Clinic, oral cancer risk can be decreased by eating a balanced diet rich in nutrient-dense foods.

Avoiding Certain Foods and Drinks for Healthy Teeth

Check out the following foods and drinks that lead to poor oral health. Removing them from your diet may be challenging, yet practicing balance can yield significant benefits.

Consider the following dentist-recommended strategies for reducing the number of foods and beverages in your diet: 

Sugary Foods: Candy, cakes, biscuits, ordinary gum, and other treats.

Fruit Drinks: Fruit juices, particularly sugar-sweetened ones.

Sticky, Chewy Foods: Caramel, honey, raisins, granola bars, and jelly beans.

Carbonated Soft Drinks: Both regular and diet drinks.

Acidic Food and Beverages: Fruit juices, tea, pickles, lemons and alcohol. 

If you are only going to make one adjustment, it should be to reduce the amount of sugar you consume.

Dietary Advice for the Best Dental Health

After discussing what to avoid, let's examine some dietary recommendations that can help you maintain your smile for many years. 

Consume a lot of fruits and veggies: Uncooked fruits and vegetables are excellent for your overall health and dental health. They help to cast down bacteria from sticking to your health and are high in dietary fibre. It helps to restore saliva production. 

Vitamin and mineral-rich foods: Obtaining sufficient vitamins and minerals helps maintain oral health and encourages a solid immune system. Calcium and phosphorus are essential for solid bones and can be identified in leafy green vegetables, milk, cheese, and yogurt. Iron, zinc, magnesium, potassium, vitamin A, vitamin B12, vitamin C, and vitamin K are also necessary.

Select Nutritious Snacks: Snacks should be rich in nutrients and low in sugar. For instance, full-grain bread, hummus, apples, raw veggies, hard cheese, hard-boiled eggs, nuts, seeds, and plain yogurt are good snacks. 

Be sure to stay hydrated: Water helps keep you hydrated and rinses away food particles and sugars stuck in your teeth.

Sum Up

Diet is essential in maintaining oral health, influencing the possibility of gum disease, dental cavities, and other dental issues. Remember that maintaining a healthy mouth is as crucial as maintaining a balanced diet. 

Are you searching for a dental clinic near me? Visit Vista Dental provides a broad range of dental services, including routine cleanings and more involved procedures. The staff will show you how simple it is to maintain a healthy smile for life! 

FAQS 

Ques:- What is the cheapest way to fix rotten teeth?

Ans:- Basic restoration procedures such as fillings or extractions are the most cost-effective ways to fix teeth. Preventative treatment, like routine cleanings and checkups, can save money in the long run by preventing more serious problems.

Ques:- What to wear for a dental appointment?

Ans:- You should wear dark or neutral colours. If you are on your lunch break, you should avoid wearing your work shirt. Also, avoid turtlenecks and high-collared shirts. 

Ques:- Is it compulsory to wear a tooth cap?

Ans:- Wearing a tooth cap is generally required to fix teeth that have become decayed, broken, discoloured, or malformed. After treating the tooth, the crown restores its function and aesthetic appeal.

Ques:- What type of dentist is best for dentures?

Ans:- Make an appointment with a general dentist for a professional denture correction. You should schedule an appointment if you feel pain or sores, have problems eating, or your dentures are slipping.

Ques:- How long does it take to get a cap at the dentist?

Ans:- The dentist uses dental cement to attach the cap to the tooth. This typically takes 20 minutes to complete. If the dentist makes multiple adjustments to get the right fit, it may take 30 minutes or more.