In honor of National Nutrition Month, we thought now is the perfect time to talk a little about the changes you can make to your diet that can help to improve not only your oral health but your overall health too. At our dental office in Modesto, we always recommend that patients work with their primary care physician to create a dietary plan that’s healthy and right for you and your family.
Can Eating Healthy Help My Smile?
The resounding answer to this question is Y-E-S! It starts with adding foods that are rich in these vitamins and minerals to your diet:
- Calcium
- Phosphorus
- Vitamin C
- Vitamin A
The biggest benefit to eating healthy foods is that you’re going to have an added defense and protection to your tooth enamel. While this is the hardest substance in our bodies, even stronger than bone, it can be highly and irreversibly damaged by acids and bacteria. This is a problem because, no matter how advanced dentistry has become, there’s nothing that can replace the natural durability of your tooth enamel.
What Foods Does My Dentist in Modesto Recommend?
We agree with the American Dental Association when it recommends adding certain foods and beverages to your diet that contain beneficial tooth nutrients. Note that they’re not high in sugar or overly processed. Some of the recommended foods include:
- Milk
- Plain yogurt
- Cheese
- Tofu
- Leafy greens
- Almonds
- Apples
- Carrots
- Celery
Is Sugar Really That Bad for Me and My Smile?
Unfortunately, sugar isn’t good for your mouth or your body. Especially candies, chocolates, sodas, and sports drinks. It’s important to limit or even eliminate these things from your diet wherever you can. They’re going to do more harm to your teeth than good, so it’s best to keep them to a minimum for you and your family’s oral health to function properly.
Remember, sugars lurk in mysterious places like carbohydrate-loaded foods. They break down into simple sugars in your body, and this is just as dangerous as eating sweets and drinking sugary beverages. Try being more mindful of what the labels say when you’re shopping at the store for you and your family.
If you have questions about making your diet more healthy or how to take care of your smile, please never hesitate to reach out to our Modesto dental practice. We’re happy to take your call, answer your questions, and even schedule you for a visit to talk.