Your diet can have a huge impact on your teeth and gums and lead to health problems you may not even realize. It’s easy to look at how our diets impact our energy, weight, and even our hormones, but often, our teeth and gums are severely neglected. When we don’t get enough of the nutrients we need in our diets, they can lead to a substantial amount of oral diseases. Our mouths are intricately connected to our health, and what we eat impacts our oral health in various ways. We’re here to explore these connections and help you learn how to keep your teeth and gums healthy through your diet.
The Impact of Your Oral Health With Diet
Your mouth is more than just a place for you to speak – it’s part of the body’s natural defense against diseases. Our bodies are hosts of natural bacteria that work to protect us from viruses and forms of harmful bacteria, and this is found through the gut microbiome, an ecosystem of healthy bacteria that regulates our digestive tracts. These strains of bacteria maintain stability, allowing for easy digestion and absorption of the nutrients we need. The same applies to our mouths as well, as our mouths also contain healthy strains of bacteria that work with our digestive tract and help us digest our food.
However, it’s also a highly vulnerable spot too, as food particles can collect strains of harmful bacteria and introduce them to our system. These collections of bacteria can cause our bodies to become more prone to respiratory diseases and digestion problems, and for our teeth and gums, the bacteria can infect the gumline, decay the tooth enamel, and reach into our bloodstream. When oral issues become more persistent, it can lead to our bodies developing other health conditions such as endocarditis, cardiovascular disease, and pneumonia over time. To combat these long-term issues, healthy diets are essential for giving us the nutrients we need to keep a healthy gut microbiome and keep our immune systems in top shape.
What Kind of Diet Is Important For Our Teeth?
When it comes to what can help treat oral diseases, medications, cleanings, and regular hygiene habits will only be able to go so far. Reinforcing healthier lifestyle choices and choosing options that work to prevent the onset of the disease is the only sure way to protect your oral health. When it comes to diet, nutritious foods can help improve oral health because of the nutrients they provide. To get a better idea of those nutrients, some ways to reduce your risk for oral diseases include:
- Eat Foods High In Vitamin D, A, and C
- Dairy Products with High Calcium
- Drink Water with Fluoride
- Focus on Lean Proteins and Low-Fat Meals
- Find High Fiber Vegetables and Fruits
The best way to learn more about how to manage your oral health is through your dentist. Avoiding sugary foods, carbohydrates, and high-fat diets can help your body feel better and give you a better-looking smile.
