Diet and nutrition play an instrumental role in oral health. While nutrition refers to the specific vitamins and nutrients you put into your body, diet relates to the actual foods you consume. The pH properties and nutrients contained in different foods in your diet directly correlate to the development of cavities and other factors that influence oral health.
Diet Food That Help In Good Oral Health
Avoiding oral health complications is critical since tooth decay, gingivitis, and plaque buildup can lead to other problems like diabetes and respiratory infections. Optimising your oral health diet is one of the most effective, natural ways to keep your teeth strong and your gums healthy.
- Dairy Products
Dairy products like milk, cheese, and yoghurts are high in calcium, phosphates, and caseins, all of which help enamel rebuild. If you consume dairy products following sugary foods, it can help protect your teeth by neutralising acid levels. The calcium and phosphates in dairy products help to strengthen teeth by fighting bacteria.
Fibre
Saliva is great for your teeth because it helps neutralise bacteria and certain foods trigger saliva secretion in your mouth. Foods high in fibre generally require a lot of chewing, which generates more saliva. When considering fruits and vegetables as your high fibre options, it’s better to choose the whole fruit/vegetable rather than a juice. The benefits of chewing include massaging the gums and encouraging saliva production.
Omega-3 Fatty Acids
Reducing inflammation is critical for your oral health, and omega-3 is a great way to do this. Our bodies cannot produce omega-3 fatty acids naturally. Fatty fish like wild salmon along with eggs and flaxseed are high in omega-3. You can take a supplement if you find it hard to work these foods into your daily diet.
Nuts
Carbohydrates activate decay-causing bacteria, so the benefit of low carb foods like nuts goes a long way. Nuts also require a lot of chewing to eat, and this results in saliva production that helps to protect your teeth from harmful bacteria.
Lean Proteins
Part of oral health is your teeth’ strength, and like the rest of your body, building strength requires intaking enough protein. Lean proteins are the healthiest way to get these nutrients and include fish, meat, poultry, eggs, and milk.
Oral Health Conditions
Oral health conditions affecting the general population include dental caries (tooth decay), oral cancers, periodontal (gum) diseases, oral manifestations of HIV, oro-dental trauma, and cleft lip palate. Noma is an oral gangrenous infection of the mouth and face that mainly affects malnourished children in Sub-saharan Africa, Latin America, and Asia.
Most oral health conditions are preventable through basic hygiene and regular checkups with your dentist. Schedule an appointment with your dentist in Coventry to find out how you can improve your dental care routine. Severe oral health conditions hardest-hit countries, where access to dental care is limited, and prominent marketing of sugary foods in drinks in many nations is also contributing to tooth decay.
Tooth decay occurs from high sugar consumption levels and insufficient oral hygiene measures, such as inadequate intake of fluoride. Periodontal diseases affect the gums and lead to swelling, irritation, and sometimes bleeding.
Gum disease impacts the support around your teeth as the gums often recede because of this condition. Severe gum disease affects about 10% of the world’s population.
In almost all cases, oral health conditions can be prevented or minimised by integrating certain practices into your daily life. Eating healthy food and limiting your intake of sugar and carbonated beverages is vital.
Choosing water as your primary drink goes a long way in preventing tooth decay. Reducing the consumption of alcohol and tobacco products and wearing protective equipment for your face when participating in sports or riding motorised vehicles are also essential factors in minimising oral health risks.
Development of Oral Cavity and Diet
Diet can predict your oral health in advance of your development. A low diet during childhood or even a mother’s poor diet during pregnancy can impact children’s outcomes as they grow.
For adults, a low diet over an extended period can promote bacterial growth in the mouth and allow the bacteria to destroy tooth enamel, causing cavities. By choosing healthy foods that are low in sugar and have additional benefits, you can prevent tooth decay and strengthen your teeth for a bright smile that lasts.
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