Your dental care routine shouldn’t end with regular brushing and flossing. Diet also plays an important role in preventing oral complications, such as tooth sensitivity, tooth decay, and gum disease. This goes beyond avoiding food and beverages high in sugar.
Food Contributes to Plaque Buildup on Your Teeth
Tooth decay is an oral problem that occurs when the bacteria in your mouth make acids that damage your teeth’s enamel. This problem causes cavities, which are holes in your teeth. If left untreated, you would experience pain, get an infection, and lose your tooth eventually.
Your mouth contains bacteria, both good and bad. When the harmful bacteria mix with food, they will form a soft, sticky film known as plaque. With the help of the sugar and starch from what you eat and drink, the bacteria in the plaque will make acids. These are the ones that attack the surface of your teeth, which cause tooth decay.
If you don’t look after your teeth, plus you eat more sugary and starchy food, you’ll have higher chances of developing tooth decay. People who don’t get enough fluoride are also at risk for this dental problem. Fluoride, together with your saliva, replaces the minerals that help the enamel repair itself.
Food to Eat for Healthy Teeth
A healthy diet comes a long way. Nutrient-rich meals from all food groups help keep your teeth and gums in optimum condition. Practice eating a balanced diet that consists of fruits, vegetables, calcium-rich food, protein food, and whole grains.
Calcium-rich food maintains the strength not only of your teeth but also your bones. These food items include low fat or fat-free milk, fortified soy drinks, almonds, and green leafy vegetables, among others.
Phosphorus-rich food, such as eggs, lean meat, fish, nuts, and dairy, also contributes to keeping your teeth strong. For your gum health, make sure to include vitamin C to your diet. Citrus fruits, peppers, tomatoes, and broccoli are a great source of such a vitamin.
Apart from the food you eat, you should also pay attention to how frequently you eat them. If you snack more in between meals, you introduce more acid to the surface of your teeth. You can still take some snacks, of course, but stay away from the sugary ones like hard candies. Instead, go for raw vegetables, fruits, or popcorn.
Keeping the Healthy Smile
A healthy, beautiful smile makes you feel more confident, especially when talking to other people. It pays to keep your pearly whites in a healthy state all the time. You can use it as an advantage to seize different opportunities in life.
In case you still develop tooth decay, get a fluoride treatment to help the enamel repair itself. Consider visiting your dentist in Meridian, Idaho, as well, to remove decayed tooth tissue and replace it with dental fillings. Other treatments include root canal and extraction, depending on the severity of the problem.
Being smart to your diet not only prevents you from ruining your teeth, but it’s also vital to your overall health. A balanced diet also gives you the nutrition you need to delay, if not prevent, diseases that you would have developed for having an unhealthy diet.
Finally, don’t skip your oral hygiene routine. Learn how to brush your teeth properly to ensure that no bad bacteria stay in your mouth. Regular dental checkups are also necessary. Investing in a healthy diet is always better than spending too much on costly dental procedures.
