Parm SAYS!
A healthy diet and nutritional counselling is becoming an increasingly important aspect of preventive dentistry and the general health. It is very important to understand the quality, consistency, nutritional composition, and combinations in which foods are eaten for healthier teeth and body.
The new generation is clearly gearing towards a healthier diet to achieve a healthy physique and to maintain optimal levels of body's performance. A diet consisting of antioxidants and other nutrients found in fruits, vegetables, legumes, nuts and some alternate foods such as soy foods, can help strengthen immunity and improve the body’s ability to combat bacteria. In other words, inflammation in the body can be avoided with more force when proper nutrients are absorbed through a complete diet. This can also help protect the teeth and gums. A healthy diet can also aid in the prevention of cavity-causing bacteria attacks. To make sure that your body obtains all the necessary nutrients and vitamins, it is best to follow Canada's Food Guide.
Calcium is an important component of a healthy diet and a mineral necessary for life. It helps promote healthy strength of the bone and teeth. Calcium-fortified drinks such as juices, milk and other dairy products are rich in calcium and vitamin D. Hard cheeses are also very good for the teeth as they help release a burst of calcium that mixes with plaque and sticks to the teeth, protecting them from the acid that causes decay.
Crisp fruits and raw vegetables, like apples, carrots and celery, help clean plaque from teeth and freshen breath. Antioxidant vitamins, such as vitamin C, and other nutrients from fruits and vegetables help protect gums and other tissues from cell damage and bacterial infection. Folic acid is also important to have in a healthy diet. It helps promote a healthy mouth and supports cell growth throughout the entire body. Folic acid can be found mainly in dark green leafy vegetables. It is also very important to avoid or limit the foods that cause and promote cavities in the mouth. Some of the cavity-causing organisms in the mouth feed on the sugar in foods such as soda, sugary drinks/candies and convert it to acid, which attacks tooth enamel and causes tooth decay.
An acidic environment in the mouth can also cause problems with the teeth. Acidic foods and drinks such as carbonated drinks, citrus fruit juices, wine, pickles and honey can cause tooth enamel to weaken, wear away and teeth to become sensitive, cracked and discolored. Foods that take a long time to chew or that you hold in your mouth (such as cough drops) can damage teeth as they hold sugar against teeth longer than other foods do. Be sure to avoid snacking on sugary, carbohydrate-rich or acidic foods throughout the day, these foods should be consumed during meal times in order to decrease the amount exposed to time the teeth. The mouth produces more saliva to help digest larger meals, which then washes away more food and helps neutralize harmful acids before they can attack the teeth.
A healthier diet aids in achieving a healthy physique and maintaining optimal levels of body's performance which is an important part of life. A diet that promotes good oral health is not just about the foods you eat or avoid, when and how you eat them is equally important.
For more information on healthy living be sure to contact one of our dental professionals.
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