How Your Eating Habits Affect Your Dental Health?

You must have heard people saying that “you are what you eat.” If you visit your emergency dental clinic, your dentist will tell you the same thing. Why? Because the foods you choose and how often you eat them can affect your oral health. Let us now look at how your eating habits can affect your oral health.

Consuming Dairy Products

Unsweetened dairy products like whole milk, yogurt, cheese, cottage cheese, etc. contain calcium and vitamin D. These nutrients strengthen your teeth, help in rebuilding your tooth enamel, and maintain balanced pH level in your mouth. This means that a glass of milk or a piece of cheese after your meals neutralize the acids in your mouth and keep your teeth healthy.

Munching Sugary Foods

Sugary foods such as candies, hard jellies, caramel, chocolates, cakes, etc. stick to your dental surfaces and get trapped in the interdental spaces. Harmful bacteria feed on these sugars, release acids, and result in dental problems such as enamel erosion, cavities, decays, gum receding, etc. Excessive consumption of sugary foods and beverages can lead to serious consequences.

Late Night Binge Eating

Binge eating in itself can have adverse effects on your dental health as you rapidly consume different types of foods which may contain harmful components that won’t be suitable for your dental health, for instance, starchy snacks. Carbohydrate is the major constituent of binge eating. Carbohydrates break down into simple sugars on chewing. When you eat excessive carbohydrate before going to bed, it sticks to your dental surfaces and in interdental spaces, thus leading to dental problems.

Consuming a Fibrous Diet

Chewing foods that are high in dietary fiber such as raw fruits and vegetables, beans, nuts, sprouts, etc. stimulate salivation. Saliva not only helps in washing away harmful acids from your mouth but also breaks down the residue of foods trapped in the crevices of your mouth. This way consuming more fiber can keep your mouth free from decays, teeth sensitivity, cavities, and other problems.

Drinking Sugarless Black and Green Teas

Sugarless green and black teas contain high amounts of antioxidants. These antioxidants prevent bad breath, bacteria and plaque build-ups, lower the chances of cavities and control oral inflammations. But, over-consumption of these teas can also lead to teeth staining. Therefore, limit your consumption to not more than 2-3 cups daily for safeguarding your dental health.

Consuming Acidic Foods and Beverages

Excessive acids, even citric and acetic acids, are the starting point of most dental and gum problems. These acids not only break down your dental structures but also result in bad breath. Drinking a lot of soda, energy drinks, colas, lemon iced teas, citric juices, and eating pickles, tomato ketchup, salsa, etc. can eventually ruin your dental health.

A well-balanced diet can help you maintain strong teeth and a healthy mouth. Visit your emergency dental clinic and talk to your dentist to find out which foods are the best and which are unhealthy for your dental health. Accordingly, create your diet chart and take a step towards better dental health.