Dieting For Dental Health: 4 Healthy-Eating Tips To Protect Your Mouth, Teeth, And Gums

Brushing, flossing, and regular visits to your dentist may help your teeth remain healthy and appealing, but other tasks are also beneficial to your oral health. A well-balanced diet is not only important for maintaining a healthy body and weight, but it can also improve and protect your mouth, teeth, and gums. While surprising to hear, improving your diet can decrease your risk of tooth decay and gum disease. Using these healthy diet tips, you can improve the look of your teeth while protecting the health of your mouth, teeth, and gums.

Avoid Excessive Sugars and Starches

Reducing your intake of sugar and starches is smart for weight loss, but it can also benefit your oral health. Eating or drinking sugary, starchy foods in excess can increase your risk of cavities and tooth decay. When consuming these foods, the sugary, starchy residue can build up on your teeth and gums.

Since brushing your teeth immediately after eating is not always possible, the stubborn residue can quickly turn into plaque and gum disease. Reduce your intake of the following foods to decrease your risk of decay and further dental complications:

• Juice
• Soda
• Candy
• Cookies
• Potato Chips
• Cakes
• Ice Cream

Make Healthier Snack Choices

Snacking in smart for a boost of energy in between meals, but quick snacks are often loaded with unhealthy sugars and starches. Fortunately, snacking in a healthier manner is possible.

When you feel hungry, reach for a few pieces of cheese. Cheese is an excellent source of calcium, which is essential for your bone health. In addition, cheese is loaded with important vitamins and minerals including casein. This protein creates a layer of protection on your tooth enamel, reducing the risk of plaque buildup and cavities.

Apples are also a healthy snack option, since its natural properties increase the production of saliva in your mouth. Saliva is imperative for removing food particles and bacteria from your mouth and teeth, so increasing this moisture with a healthy snack is smart.

Increasing the amount of fresh vegetables you eat can also improve your oral health. Snack on carrots, which are rich in fiber and vitamin A. Celery is also an excellent snack choice, because it contains vitamins and antioxidants. In addition, the crunchy consistency of celery acts as a toothbrush, which removes the buildup of food from your teeth while eating.

Drink More Water

Water is an essential part of your health, but you are most likely not familiar with its benefits to your dental health.

Proper hydration is necessary to keep your mouth moist, preventing it from becoming warm and dry. This warm, dry environment can become a breeding ground for harmful bacteria, which increases your risk of cavities, decay, and gum disease.

To ensure your mouth remains moist and healthy, following the recommended intake of water is key. Men should drink approximately 13 cups of water while women require 9 cups. Consuming this recommended amount of water will keep your body hydrated and your mouth moist.

Supplement When Possible

Following a healthy diet may not always be possible, but supplementing with vitamins when possible can benefit your oral health.

Each day, take a multi-vitamin, but also add a CoQ10 and Omega 3 Fatty Acid supplement to your regimen. CoQ10, or coenzyme Q10, helps heal and protect the gums from inflammation and gum disease. Omega 3 fatty acids are important for your heart health, but they can also reduce your risk of gum disease.

Make sure to following dosage recommendations on each supplement to ensure you are taking a sufficient amount for your underlying dental health.

A well-balanced diet is important for a healthy lifestyle, but it can also benefit your smile. Using these tips to improve your diet, you can protect your mouth, teeth, and gums from many oral health issues. For more information on protecting your dental health, check out a clinic that offers preventive dentistry in your area.