Most surely you have heard the adage, “You are what you eat.” While this does not mean that you will turn into a banana or a piece of pizza, it does mean that your dietary choices will have a direct impact on the health of your teeth.
When you think about it, your mouth is truly the gateway to your entire body. You breathe air in through your mouth, you take in foods and beverages through your mouth, and even many of your bad habits revolve around your mouth. When you make a concerted effort to watch closely what you allow to enter into your mouth, your body is healthier and performs at a higher capacity. However, if you eat whatever you want, drink sugary beverages, and ignore acidic foods and beverages, your oral health will decline rapidly.
Sugar is one of the current nemeses in America. It seems that everything is caused by sugar. While that may not be true, it is no recent knowledge that sugar has a negative impact on the health of your teeth. Your mouth is home to millions of bacteria, and these bacteria are most attracted to the sugars in the foods and beverages you consume. Every time you eat or drink anything other than water, tiny particles are left behind in your mouth. The oral bacteria congregate around these particles and begin to produce acids to break them down. All acids are notorious for eating through whatever is in their path. When this is your tooth enamel, you may begin to think differently before indulging in that dessert, sports drink, soda, or candy.
Acid erosion is another challenging issue for many people. Acid erosion is the chemical dissolution that causes loss of tooth enamel, and it is a direct cause of acidic foods and beverages that you ingest. Pickled vegetables, coffee, soft drinks, alcohol, and citrus fruits have high acidity. An over consumption of any of these can lead to weakened tooth enamel, leaving the teeth vulnerable to cavities, cracking, chipping, and extreme tooth sensitivity.
Of course, there is a flip side. Foods like dairy products, grains, and lean meats can all provide the minerals and nutrients that your teeth need to remain healthy and strong.
Contact Peninsula Dentistry today to learn how your current choices are affecting your oral health.
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