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The Good and Bad of Diet: What Foods Affect the Health of Your Teeth?

June 15, 2018

The Good and Bad of Diet: What Foods Affect the Health of Your Teeth?

There are many reasons to carefully consider what you eat. Even if you are not trying to lose weight or treat a particular ailment with the foods you eat, there are some really important reasons to think long and hard about what you are eating. In fact, you may not even know that your diet can have a big impact on the health of your teeth.

The foods you eat and the beverages you drink can affect not just the way your teeth look but how long they last. At California Dental Group we want our patients to have as much information as possible about how to take care of their oral health. Read on to find out more about what foods to eat and which to avoid and then contact us at (800) 407-0161 to set up a dental appointment.

Foods you should try to avoid

First and foremost, you want to avoid foods that are full of sugar or high in carbs. Of course, we know that you do not want to hear this. Sugar and carbs are in most of our favorite treats but eating too much of them can seriously damage your teeth. Both carbs and sugar turn into acid when they come into contact with your saliva. If you eat too much, then your teeth and gums are constantly being exposed to acid that can eat away at them. Eventually, this can lead to gum disease, weak gums, and tooth separation.

Next, you want to avoid foods that stick to your teeth easily. This includes the typical things you would imagine, like gummy candies and caramel, but it also includes textured things like steak. If you do eat these sticky items just make sure that you are following proper home oral care that includes brushing and flossing.

Foods to eat more of

In addition to avoiding foods that are bad for your teeth, you can also increase the amount of foods you eat that are good for your teeth. Two examples include apples and celery, both of which are crunchy, which is good for your gums. They also both increase saliva production, which cleans your mouth. We also recommend eating a variety of fruits and veggies so that you get the right amounts of vitamins. C and D are both great minerals for your teeth and if you are not getting them naturally then a supplement may be a good idea.

We can help you improve the health of your teeth

Paying attention to what you are eating and drinking is just one thing you can do to improve the health of your teeth. The most important things you can do overall are to ensure that you are brushing and flossing daily, and that you are visiting your dentist every three months for a checkup and exam. If it has been longer than that then we urge you to contact California Dental Group at (800) 407-0161 to set up an appointment.

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