Your diet affects every aspect of your health, yet many people overlook this fact. A greasy diet will affect your skin, a high-fat diet will affect your weight, and a high-sugar diet will affect your teeth. Almost every aspect of your body’s health begins with choices that you make surrounding your mouth. Smoking, food choices, and beverage choices all involve what is allowed to enter into the body via the mouth. Yet, many people neglect this simple fact because they brush their teeth daily and floss occasionally.
The body is an extremely intricate machine in which all parts work together. If one part of the body is unhealthy, the entire body will suffer. If you have ever broken or injured a toe, then you understand how this can be. A broken toe can put you off your feet for at least a week, yet it can make exercising uncomfortable for upwards of a month. A single toe injury can be painful and cause you to gain weight, lose muscle tone, and affect your entire health. Now, think of what an unhealthy diet can do to your mouth – and your entire body – when you consistently make unwise food choices.
Inside the mouth are millions of bacteria that thrive off of the food particles that are left behind after you eat and drink. These bacteria help to break down these food particles by producing acids inside the mouth that make their job easier. It is these acids that cause tooth decay and gum disease. The oral bacteria are most attracted to the sugars in the foods and beverages that you consume. They congregate at sugary particles in large numbers and produce a great deal of acid. It is important to note that artificial sweeteners taste the same to bacteria as real sugar does, so choosing a Diet Coke over a Regular Coke does not protect the teeth in any way.
Maintaining a healthy diet consists of the following:
- Fresh fruits and vegetables in their natural states (hence not baked in desserts)
- Lean sources of protein
- Whole grains
- Dry beans
- Legumes
- Low-fat dairy products
A healthy diet does more than keep the numbers on the scale low, it protects the mouth from decay – which in turn protects the body from poor health. At Pure Dental Health we will be happy to help you find a diet plan that meets your needs and protects your oral health. Call us today.
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