To avoid caries and periodontitis, it’s enough just to reconsider the attitude to nutrition. Teeth and other hard tissues are destroyed by acids that produce bacteria in the mouth. Some products and their combinations provoke the accelerated growth of carious bacteria. Despite the fact that nutrition itself does not affect periodontitis, the disease develops faster and is more difficult in patients whose diet does not provide them with the necessary nutrients.
Poor nutrition affects the entire immune system, increasing a person's susceptibility to many disorders. In addition, studies show a link between oral health and systemic diseases such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Eating a variety of foods with a well-balanced diet will improve the health of your teeth, and increasing fiber and vitamins in your diet will also help reduce the risk of developing other diseases.
How do I plan my diet to improve dental health?
Proper nutrition is characterized by moderation and diversity. It is important to develop the right eating habits that will be good for your health.
- Choose products from the main groups: fruits, vegetables; bread and cereals; milk, dairy products and meat; a hen; fish or legumes. Avoid extremes in diets that limit or exclude whole food groups and usually lead to a deficiency of vitamins or minerals.
- Always keep your mouth moist – drink plenty of water. Saliva protects both hard and soft tissues of the oral cavity. If you are concerned about dry mouth, supplement your diet with sugar candies or chewing gum to stimulate salivation.
- Food that sticks to teeth contributes to their destruction. Therefore, when you have a snack, avoid soft, sweet, sticky foods such as cakes, sweets, and dried fruits. Instead, choose dentically healthy foods like nuts, raw vegetables, plain yogurt, cheese, chewing gums, or sugar-free sweets.
- When you eat fermented carbohydrates like crackers, cookies, and chips, combine them with other foods. The combination with other products will help neutralize acid in the mouth and suppress the development of caries. For example, enjoy a cheese cracker. Such a snack, in addition to satisfaction, will help you achieve dental health.
An important point: poor nutrition can be either overeating or undernourishment. Each time you eat, an environment is created in the mouth for the development of bacteria. In addition, studies show that dental diseases are also strongly associated with overeating, like heart disease, obesity, diabetes, and hypertension. So, it’s better to forget the habit of eating a lot or chewing “from nothing to do”.
When should I go to the dentist about my diet?
If you have doubts about how your diet affects dental health, be sure to ask your dentist a question. Cases such as tooth loss, pain, or other disorders can make chewing difficult. They are often found in older people, those who follow a strict diet or undergo treatment. People with such problems may be isolated or too weak to maintain a balanced diet at a time when this is especially important. Talk with your dentist about what you can do for yourself or someone close in these circumstances.
