Food friends and foes!

As we prepare for back to school, I thought it would be important to reiterate the importance of diet, not just to your general health, but to your dental health in particular. With this in mind, I will go over our clasification of good and bad foods, as was done previously.

As they say, you are what you eat. This adage is no truer than when it comes to your diet and your oral health. For instance, eating food rich in starch or drinking beverages with high sugar content feeds your stomach, but also feeds the plaque that forms in your mouth.

It isn’t all bad though. While there are foods that invite trouble, there are also certain foods that help combat the plaque that builds up and aid your efforts at keeping your teeth healthy.

The Friends

The following food items are always good to include in your diet, as they help regulate the bad elements and increase the good in your oral health.

Calcium

Calcium is one of your best friends when it comes to preventing tooth decay. This is especially true for growing children and those with dental issues. Dairy products – be it milk, cheese, or yogurt – are all good sources of calcium. The best part is, even skimmed milk or low-fat yogurt are as effective.

Other sources include almonds, broccoli, fish, Brazil nuts, bok choy, and dried beans.

Fibre in fruits and veggies. Eat the right food for healthy teeth

Foods that contain high amounts of fibre help keep the saliva flowing, which, in turn, works as our natural defense against most oral problems.

Rich sources of fibre include bananas, oranges, and apples, along with dried fruits like raisins, figs, and dates. Several vegetables and nuts are also good sources, like beans, peas, brussel sprouts, peanuts, almonds, and bran.

Sugarless chewing gum

Sugar free gum has been proven to be good for oral hygiene and you should make it a part of your regular routine, especially after meals and snacks. Not does it help clear off the food debris that is stuck in your mouth, but it also works to increase the saliva flow.

The Foes

There are also the food and drink items that cause harm to your oral health and should be avoided at all costs.

Snacks rich in sugar 

Staying clear of snacks that are rich in sugar is not only good for your figure watch, but also helps keep your oral health at a high. The sugar in food aids the plaque in your mouth to weaken the enamel and leaves your teeth vulnerable to decay. It is especially a good idea to avoid eating sweets that are sticky, as they are the worst for your oral health.

Starchy, refined carbohydrates

Those foods that are made from white flour or that are high in starch, such as bread, crackers, pasta and chips, are almost as bad for your oral health as sugary foods. This is because the starch breaks down to simple sugars, which the bacteria can feast on.

Carbonated soft drinks

We’ve all heard it time and again, but refuse to acknowledge the real danger of carbonated drinks. Not only is the high sugar content bad for our teeth, but so is the phosphorous and carbonated liquid that tears away at the enamel.