Because the mouth is connected to the rest of the body, the food you eat plays a vital role in your oral health. Most people know that sugary foods are not good for your teeth, but there are some other eating habits that can affect your teeth in ways you may not realize. Candy and chocolate are not the only foods that cause cavities. Your overall health is greatly affected by the foods you eat, and your oral health is greatly affected by your overall health. For those wondering how food affects the teeth, read the following points to learn more.
Texture of Food
While some foods may be considered healthy, if they have a sticky texture, they can cause cavities on your teeth. It makes sense that chewy candy causes cavities since it sticks to the grooves of the teeth. But dried fruit like raisins and dried apricots can stick to the grooves of the teeth as well. Fruits have natural sugars in them, and while they are much better for you than processed foods and sugars, they can still cause the breakdown of enamel. How often you eat these foods and your hygiene habits after consumption play a large role in how these foods affect your teeth.
Frequency of Consumption
It is much better to sit down and eat an entire piece of chocolate cake than to sip on a soda all day. While neither choice is ideal for your teeth, your mouth has time to self-cleanse with saliva to neutralize sugars when you eat food in one sitting. However, if you are grazing on sugary snacks all day (even healthy foods like fruit), your saliva is overwhelmed with the sugar attack and cannot self-cleanse like it is meant to. Therefore, it is not only what you eat but how often you are eating it.
Foods that stain the teeth fall under this category as well. If you occasionally have a glass of red wine, your teeth will not be nearly as stained as if you drink red wine every night before bed. Your hygiene habits after these practices are also essential in eliminating long-term effects these foods and drinks have on your teeth.
Nutritional Value of Food
If your body is unhealthy, your mouth is unhealthy too. Poor dietary habits lead to systemic issues such as heart disease and diabetes, which have a direct correlation with gum disease. By choosing nutritious foods, you nurture the entire body, including your mouth. Vitamin deficiencies can lead to oral effects as well, and supplements like vital reds can help reduce this. It is important to follow a well-balanced diet for every system in your body. What effects one part of your body will eventually affect every part.
Hygiene Habits After Eating Food
The most essential way to reduce the effects that food has on your teeth is to follow proper oral hygiene habits. This includes brushing at least twice daily and flossing at least once daily. If you are unable to brush after every meal, at least try to swish with fluoridated water for a few seconds to help neutralize the effects of sugar and acid on your teeth. Those who neglect oral hygiene habits on a daily basis will always be at a higher risk of developing gum disease and cavities.
Best Foods for Your Teeth
While most people understand that certain foods are bad for your teeth, few know that there are actually foods that help promote better dental health. Foods like carrots, apples, celery and broccoli help remove plaque from the teeth due to their hardness and the chewing action involved in eating them. Again, however, oral hygiene habits after eating are essential no matter what type of food is consumed.
It can be easy to assume that the type of food you eat has no direct effect on your teeth. However, full-body health is as important to the teeth as oral health is to the whole body.