What You Need to Know About Your Diet & Dental Health

Your diet plays a major role in not just your weight, but your overall health and especially your oral health. Here at Gateshead Dental, we believe in educating our patients about not just regular dental care such as brushing and flossing, but also their diet and how it can impact their dental health.

Any foods and drinks that have a lot of sugar, including soda and candy, wear down the enamel on your teeth and lead to cavities and tooth decay. Foods and drinks that are highly acidic can also do this to your teeth. Orange juice, although considered healthy, is capable of causing enamel erosion due to its high acid content.

It’s best to make sure you monitor and reduce your sugar and acid intake as much as possible. When you do consume sugars, it’s ideal to try to do so in a shorter period of time.

As sugars wear down enamel when left on your teeth, consuming them over a longer period of time prolongs the length of time that it negatively impacts your teeth. Cut back on sugary foods and make sure to consume them in a shorter amount of time. If possible, brush after eating or drinking too!

Having a poor diet by eating excessive fats and sugars rather than essential nutrients leads to major health problems that also impact your dental health. Poor health typically weakens your immune system, which can affect your ability to fight off bacteria and diseases in your mouth.

In the long run, this can lead to gum disease (periodontal disease), tooth decay, cavities, and other issues.

Maintaining a good diet will ensure that your oral hygiene and overall health status are optimal!

Like general health, a failure to monitor dental health in children and teens can have serious consequences in their development toward becoming healthy adults.

Ensuring optimal oral health during these years is vital for establishing a healthy foundation for growth and development.  Adopting a healthy diet early in life will simultaneously enhance our oral health and general health condition.

No matter how you slice it, your diet definitely impacts your oral health! Ensuring a balanced diet at all stages of your life is vital toward achieving optimal overall health, which will keep your gums, teeth, and mouth in great condition. Avoiding sugar and acid containing foods, getting vital nutrients, and maintaining a balanced diet all help to keep your dental health in good standing!

If you’re looking for information about the impact of your diet on your dental health – or for more comprehensive service for any dental needs – please contact us at Gateshead Dental!