Your body is a complex machine. The foods you choose and how often you eat them can affect your general health and the health of your teeth and gums, too. If you consume too many sugar-filled sodas, sweetened fruit drinks or non-nutritious snacks, you could be at risk for tooth decay. Tooth decay is the single most common chronic childhood disease, but the good news is that it is entirely preventable.
Tooth decay happens when plaque come into contact with sugar in the mouth, causing acid to attack the teeth.
Tooth decay happens when plaque come into contact with sugar in the mouth, causing acid to attack the teeth.
Foods that contain sugars of any kind can contribute to tooth decay. To control
the amount of sugar you eat, read the nutrition facts and ingredient labels on
foods and beverages and choose options that are lowest in sugar. Common sources
of sugar in the diet include soft drinks, candy, cookies and pastries. Your
physician or a registered dietitian can also provide suggestions for eating a
nutritious diet. If your diet lacks certain nutrients, it may be more difficult
for tissues in your mouth to resist infection. This may contribute to gum
disease. Severe gum disease is a major cause of tooth loss in adults. Many
researchers believe that the disease progresses faster and is potentially more
severe in people with poor nutrition.
Wise choices
For healthy living and for healthy teeth and gums, think before you eat and drink. It’s not only what you eat but when you eat that can affect your dental health. Eat a balanced diet and limit between-meal snacks. If you are on a special diet, keep your physician's advice in mind when choosing foods.
For good dental health, keep these tips in mind when choosing your meals and snacks:
For good dental health, keep these tips in mind when choosing your meals and snacks:
- Drink plenty of water.
- whole grains
- fruits
- vegetables
- lean beef, skinless poultry and fish; dry beans, peas and other legumes
- low-fat and fat-free dairy foods
For good dental health, always remember to brush twice a day with fluoride toothpaste floss daily and visit your dentist regularly. With regular dental care, your dentist can help prevent oral problems from occurring in the first place and catch those that do occur in the early stages, while they are easy to treat. (ADD)
Limit the number of snacks you eat. If you do snack, choose something that is healthy like fruit or vegetables or a piece of cheese. Foods that are eaten as part of a meal cause less harm to teeth than eating lots of snacks throughout the day, because more saliva is released during a meal. Saliva helps wash foods from the mouth and lessens the effects of acids, which can harm teeth and cause cavities.
Dentists in Brampton
Dental Offices in Brampton Ontario
2 Philosopher's Trail Unit #1
Brampton, Ontario
L6S 4C9
905-458-6620
Dental Offices, Brampton, Dentists, Oral Health
