If diet is one of the reasons why you might develop tooth decay, it can also be the solution to prevent this leading dental problem. Your eating patterns and food choices play an important role in tooth decay prevention and prevention to other dental problems. Thus, if you have a healthy diet, you can also have healthy teeth.
The Threat of Sugar and Healthy Foods for Teeth
When it comes to tooth decay, sugars are the number one culprit. Once they are ingested, sugars causes dissolution of enamel and dentin due to an increased acidity. This process will then result in cavities.
High sugar/low fibre diets involve refined or processed sugars. These sugars are also called added or free sugars when added to your diet, and are commonly found in candies, cookies, cakes, sodas and a lot more. Large quantity of processed sugars in the diet is highly cariogenic, which means it is decay causing, plus it also contributes to obesity.
High fibre/low sugar diets involve natural sugars that came from plants such as fruits and vegetables. They contain glucose, fructose and sucrose, which are simple sugars digested or absorbed slowly and efficiently due to their fibre content as well as vitamins and minerals. Fresh fruits and vegetable are healthier than foods with free sugars; thus consuming them reduces your chances of developing decay and promotes overall health.
Starches can either increase or decrease your risk of dental decay, depending on variety. Whole grains contain properties that protect teeth since they require more chewing, thereby stimulating secretion of protective saliva. Cooked or uncooked starchy foods like rice, potatoes and bread have lower potential to harm your teeth. However, when sugars are added to starchy foods, the potential is significantly higher.
Fruits, as mentioned earlier are good for your teeth. However, if they are consumed excessively, they don’t play a significant role in tooth decay prevention anymore. In addition, dried fruits are more cariogenic, especially those with sugars added during processing, because they contain more sugars and are sticky in nature.
Foods that protect teeth against decay include cheese, cow’s milk, human breast milk, black and green tea, as well as chocolate such as unrefined cocoa. With less sugar and more fruits, vegetables and dairy products, will help safeguard your overall oral health and entire wellbeing.
The Do’s and Don’ts’
Here are the following recommendations for promoting good oral and general health:
Do’s
- Eat a healthy and nutritional diet and get plenty or exercise
- Eat sugars in the form of fresh, organic fruits and vegetables
- Limit your consumption of soft drinks, concentrated juices, sports and energy drinks. In this way, you can minimise the risk of tooth decay and enamel erosion
Don’ts
- Eating sugary foods between meals
- Consuming more than 6 teaspoons of processed sugar in a day.
- Eating for at least an hour before bedtime particularly foods that contain processed sugars. Low rates of salivary flow during sleep lessen the ability to neutralise acid, which increases the risk of tooth decay.
Effective Tooth Decay Prevention at Prevent Dental Suite
Keeping healthy teeth takes commitment and discipline; from the types of foods you eat or drink to how you clean your mouth at home. It’s never an easy task but when you think about the result, every effort you make is worth your time and money. Prevent the consequences of tooth decay and other dental problems with the help of your Kallangur dentist at Prevent Dental Suite. We provide gentle, specialist care for all conditions and work to prevent disease, decay, and dentist appointments in the future.
Call us on (07) 3886 2428 or book your appointment online.
We are a family friendly dentist serving patients of every age in Kallangur, Murrumba Downs, North Lakes, Petrie,Strathpine, Mango Hill, Dakabin, Kurwongbah, Narangba, Whiteside, Dayboro, Bray Park, Lawnton & Warner and anywhere from Brisbane Northside area. Parking is easy, free, and located at the rear of the building (access via Storey Road).
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At Prevent Dental Suite, our goal is to make quality dental care affordable. We encourage you to take advantage of our latest offers. To find out more, visit our special offers page today!
