Food and Oral Health: Things You Need to Know

 

Image credit

Many different things can affect your health, and your food choices are one of them. Not only can it affect your general health and lead to diseases and conditions such as diabetes, heart disease and arthritis, but it can also impact your oral health. 

Your oral health plays a large role in your overall health, and should not be underestimated. It comprises a range of conditions that are estimated to impact over 3.5 billion people per year, and include tooth loss, gum disease, oral cancer, and more. 

Unhealthy food that is high in sugar is one of the leading causes of poor oral health around the world and only continues to rise. Oral health and quality of life are linked together, so you must learn about what habits are good, and which are not, to help promote healthy oral health.

Here are some tips to help get you started.

#1 Speak with your dentist 

Good quality dentists, such as East Mountain Dental, can be the best people to go to for advice. They offer a wide range of services, including oral examinations and tooth decay prevention, and will be able to talk you through the advice best for your oral hygiene. Dentists are experts in their field and have trained for years. 

#2 Make better food choices 

The best way to tackle and prevent poor oral health is through your diet. Eating a balanced diet, full of foods from a variety of food groups, for example, whole grains, vegetables, fruits, lean protein, low-fat dairy products, can significantly improve your health. You should also avoid highly processed junk food and foods that are high in sugar and chemicals. It has been suggested that cutting down on the number of snacks eaten throughout the day can also impact your oral health, as when more food is eaten in one go, i.e as a meal, then more saliva is produced which helps wash the mouth and reduce the risks of cavities as the acid is reduced. 

#3 Don’t forget to think about the liquid you consume 

It is not just sugary food that can cause oral health issues, it is also the drinks you consume as well. If you are an avid soda drinker, it is time to start cutting them down, or, if possible, cutting them out completely. It is also important to increase the amount of water you consume. If you struggle with plain water, then you may consider natural flavourings, add fruit to your drinks or opt for soda water if you like the bubbles. 

#4 Cut down on bad habits

Cutting down on bad habits such as caffeine, alcohol and tobacco can increase the chances of a healthier mouth. These bad habits are high on the list of causing mouth diseases, along with sugar intake and are important factors to consider in your overall health and lifestyle. 

Oral health is vital to your overall well being, and a large part of that is the food you consume. Take care of what you are consuming, and see where you can make changes and cut out bad foods and habits.