Bad Oral Health Due To Dieting Efforts
Going on a diet may seem great for your overall health. However, some dieting options are bad for your oral health. Some fad diets eliminate whole food groups or limit your intake of vital nutrients you need to stay healthy. You can still go on a diet or change your lifestyle for the better without negative effects on your teeth. Use these tips as your guideline.
Minimize Dried Fruits
It's not always a good idea to eat dried fruits. You think that because it's a form of a fruit that it's healthy. Now, since dried fruits are condensed, all the natural sugars it contains is still there, just in a smaller space. So there is a lot of fructose in dried fruits, and a negative side effect is type II diabetes. Those with this type of diabetes are susceptible to gum disease.
Another issue with dried fruit is when it gets stuck in your teeth. At times, it may not be fully removed until it is broken down by the good bacteria in your mouth. The acid from the fruit in the meantime may build up and cause a cavity.
Limit Acidic Fruit Intake
Many diets call for strawberries, pineapples, and other highly acidic fruits. These fruits are great for your overall health, but they are not good for your oral health if they are eaten in abundance. If your diet calls for acidic fruits to be eaten on a daily basis, you should rethink the diet. Your healthy enamel can be gone within a matter of months.
Eat Foods with a Variety of Nutrients
Some fad diets can lack nutrients. Make sure your diet contains a wide range of nutrients. If your diet lacks nutrients, you are making it easier for your mouth to get an infection. Nutrients help build up resistance.
You also need a variety of vitamins for strong jaw bones, muscles, and buildup of enamel on your teeth. The lack of nutrients can progress periodontal disease.
Eat Plenty of Fibers Enriched Foods
Eating foods high in fiber can help your oral health in more ways than one. For one, fiber is known to reduce hyperglycemia and hypertension. Those two diseases can cause gum disease.
High fiber foods are typically hard to chew. This means your mouth works harder to chew it up, and you produce more saliva in the efforts. So harmful bacteria are removed in this process. So ensure your new diet consists of foods such as oranges, bananas, sweet potatoes, broccoli, and grains.
Your dieting efforts should consist of getting the most nutrients possible in a balanced meal. This is the best way to prevent bad oral health. So before going on any diet be sure to consider all the food intake and how it could affect your oral health. For further assistance, contact a local dentist, such as David Jackson, DDS.