Everyone understands that healthy food is integral to maintaining good physical health. However, not many people are thoughtful about how their diet may affect their oral health. Most people can benefit from choosing more foods that enhance oral health. Increasing your consumption of tooth-healthy foods may help maintain good oral and dental health and keep tooth troubles at bay. Similarly, certain foods may increase the risk of tooth decay and dry mouth. In fact, some foods can be bad for dental prosthetics, too. While one of the benefits of dental implants is that you get to enjoy a wider variety of foods, certain items and textures run the risk of dislodging or damaging your implant. Read on for more information on how your diet impacts your oral health and what foods you should be prioritizing.
Diet and Oral Health
Your teeth and oral tissues require essential nutrients and hydration, just like the rest of your body. There’s a bidirectional relationship between your diet and oral health. The food you eat affects the health of your teeth and oral tissue. But your oral health affects what you can and can’t eat. For example, someone struggling with tooth loss may not be able to chew meat or poultry, making it harder for them to get essential proteins.
Nutritional deficiencies can also impact your oral health. You may already know that poor calcium intake can weaken your teeth and result in tooth loss. However, your body requires more than just calcium to maintain good oral health.
Vitamins D, C, A, and B12, along with phosphorus, are all important to maintain strong teeth. Choosing foods rich in these nutrients can help prevent problems such as dental erosion, cavities, gum disease, tooth loss, and more.
Great Foods for Oral Health
Fresh fruits: Strawberries, kiwis, guavas, cantaloupe, papayas, and oranges are rich in vitamin C. Vitamin C maintains the connective tissue in your gums and contributes to better gum health. However, vitamin C in citrus fruits can be acidic and damage dental enamel, so consume these fruits in moderation.
Cheese and dairy: Cheese is rich in calcium and phosphate, both important for good dental health. Cheese also balances the pH in your mouth and gets saliva flowing, naturally reducing the negative effects of acids in your food on your teeth. Other daily products like milk and plain yogurt can also support oral health.
Green and black tea: These teas have many tooth-protecting properties. They may help with tooth decay and offer anti-inflammatory properties that may reduce gum inflammation. Tea can also help reduce bad breath with its antibacterial properties.
Garlic: Garlic may have a bad reputation for causing bad breath, but it offers some benefits too. Allicin in garlic has antimicrobial properties and may fight tooth decay and gum disease.
Dark chocolate: This sweet treat contains CBH (cocoa bean husk), which is believed to strengthen tooth enamel. Having stronger dental enamel makes you less susceptible to tooth decay and cavities. However, as with all sweets, dark chocolate should be consumed in moderation.
Worst Foods for Oral Health
Candies and sugary sweets: When you eat sugary snacks, the sugars left in your mouth cause the bacteria in your mouth (plaque) to release acids that damage tooth enamel. Overconsumption of sweets is a prominent cause of tooth decay and cavities.
Alcohol: Alcohol may dry out your mouth and reduce saliva. Saliva helps prevent dental erosion and protects your teeth. But when it dries out, your risk of tooth decay increases.
Carbonated drinks: Regular soda drinkers face not just one but three potential dental health problems. Sugary sodas leave your teeth vulnerable to tooth decay in the same way candy does. Carbonated drinks may also cause dry mouth and (with certain colas) tooth discoloration.
Considerations for People with Dental Implants
Dental implants in Ann Arbor can make food enjoyable again for patients with tooth loss. However, certain foods can affect your implants. Here’s what to avoid:
Sticky foods: Sticky foods like caramels or taffy can dislodge or loosen your implant.
Hard foods: Avoid biting hard foods like nougat, ice, or hard candy. The impact may damage your dental implants.
You may be asked to avoid some crunchy and tough foods while your implant heals, but you can enjoy most healthy, whole foods once your implant procedure is complete. Follow your dentist’s advice on foods to avoid after getting dental implants to ensure your implants look and feel great for years.
Ben Austin is the founder and CEO of multi-award-winning digital marketing agency Absolute Digital Media. Ben loves to write and share exclusive insights into the world of digital marketing from his own eyes.
