The Role Nutrition Plays in Maintaining Healthy Teeth

Diligent brushing and flossing is certainly one component of maintaining good oral health, but other positive habits also help you keep your smile in tip-top shape.

The best dentists in Southlake will tell you that your diet also influences your oral health. The foods and beverages that you consume can harm or help your teeth.

Sugar is probably the first thing that comes to mind for most people when they consider nutrition’s effects on their dental health. Indeed, this is an important dietary factor to monitor to protect your oral health. Excessive amounts of sugar leave behind a residual food source for the oral bacteria that attack the teeth and gums. This effect is more prominent in sticky foods, like certain candies, that can cling to the teeth for some time after they are eaten.

This is why dentists tell their patients repeatedly to limit sugary snacks and beverages to reduce their chances of developing tooth decay, gum disease and other oral health issues.

What you eat can also improve the health of your teeth. A well-rounded diet that provides you with the majority of the nutrients you need helps to keep the tissues of the oral cavity in healthy condition.

Fortunately, it doesn’t take too much work on your diet to give your oral health a boost. In fact, the same things that improve your overall well-being – think fruits, veggies, low-fat or fat-free dairy and whole grains – will benefit your smile, too. Choose meals and snacks from these food groups for good oral health.

Adequate water consumption also helps in maintaining good oral health. Water benefits all of the body’s tissues in general, but a well-hydrated mouth has more saliva available to clear away those pesky bacteria. A dry mouth can give those bacteria another opportunity to proliferate.

It’s easy to focus solely on your oral hygiene routine for keeping your smile, but don’t forget that what you put on your plate matters too. At your next checkup, ask your dentist what you need to add to your diet (or eliminate from it) for the sake of your oral health.