Diets usually start from the mouth. But they usually end everywhere else – with your figure, your waistline, your mental health and your energy. Dr Tang and his Eastwood dental team explain how a healthy diet can start and end with your mouth, because a healthy diet should consider food’s effect on your teeth and gums.
Reduce Acidic Foods
You might know that many nutritionists suggests reducing acid-forming foods. A pH balance that leans toward the alkaline is consider natural and beneficial to the body. But you might not have heard about the effects of acidic foods on your teeth. These can erode enamel, the protective layer than prevents tooth decay. Citric fruits, apples, lemons, vinegar, pickles – these are just some the examples of foods that can threaten the integrity of your enamel. The best suggestion is to eat these in moderation and to make sure you drink plenty of plain water.
Avoiding such beverages is a wise option, but if you can’t bring yourself to do it, then a realistic option is increasing your water intake and reducing consumption of soft drinks, caffeine, and black tea.
Try to Avoid Soft Drinks and Coffee
Soft Drinks, Coffee, and Black Tea are now almost a necessary feature of many people’s lives. While there is debate about how these beverages should feature in your diet for the purposes of weight loss or general well-being, they certainly have an effect on your teeth. Combined with sugar, they not only dry out your mouth, cause bad breath, and stain your teeth. They can also cause plaque to form, which, as well known, can result in a necessary trip to our Eastwood dental clinic. Bacteria which forms plaque can feed of the sugar in these beverages, which in turn attacks the enamel protecting your teeth. The key issue here is the frequency of consumption and the high sugar content.
Get Calcium from Greens
It’s a well-known fact that your teeth thrive on the right amount of calcium and vitamin D. Our Eastwood Dental practice has dealt with the extremes of calcium deficiency. But did you know you don’t need to enter the dairy aisle of your supermarket to get the recommended intake of calcium and vitamin D. Not only does the sunshine promote Vitamin D, but you can turn to a whole number of leafy vegetables to get your vitamins and minerals. Broccoli, bok choy, kale, okra, collards, and other dark, leafy veggies, as well as white deans, dried fruit, and almonds can all help your smile. The added benefit is that they can also contribute to weight loss and help your overall wellbeing.
Be Careful with Food that can Crack and Stick
Most of the above advice comes from our Eastwood dental specialists looking at how food can break down in your mouth. But food can also attack your mouth and simple break it. It is common knowledge that sweet stuff can attack enamel and cause cavities. But hard candy is double trouble. The rigid texture can cause your teeth to crack simply by biting down on it. Crunchy fruit and vegetables such as apples and carrots can also cause teeth to crack. And a chipped tooth is not the only diet danger. Soft cereals, caramel, energy bars, and dried fruit are delightful because of their stickiness and chewiness, but their sugary elements can get stuck in between teeth. Hiding away in their, especially immune to those people who don’t floss, these stuck pieces can contribute to plaque forming over time. While it is unnecessary to avoid these foods altogether, taking care when chomping down and making an effort to brush and floss is vital.
Call
02 9804 8382
Address
Suite 1/148-150 Rowe St
Eastwood, NSW
Australia 2122
Opening Hours
Mon: Closed
Tues & Thurs: 9am to 6pm
Wed: 10am to 2pm
Fri: Closed
Sat: 9am to 1pm
Sun: Closed