Eat to Fight Those Nasty Cavities
Did you ever think that your diet may be affecting your visits to the dentist? At Pearlee Dental, we want you to have the latest information regarding how diet can affect cavities. When you feed yourself, you may also be feeding your teeth and gums; the wrong foods, such as starchy and sugary foods, may feed the bacteria that creates plaque, a cause of tooth decay. Here are some of the best and worst foods for your teeth.
The winners
According to the University of Rochester, these are the best foods for your teeth:
- Fruits and vegetables rich in fiber
- Milk, cheese, plain yogurt and other dairy
- Tea- green and black
- Chewing gum that is sugarless
- Foods that contain fluoride
Fiber-rich foods get your saliva flowing and help to clean your teeth and gums, which is the best natural method of fighting cavities. Your saliva works to reduce the effects of the enzymes and acids attacking your teeth after you have eaten starches and sugars.
Dairy products help rebuild enamel; calcium and phosphates help to put minerals back in teeth.
Saliva, promoted by sugarless gum, helps clean food particles from the teeth.
The teas, both green and black, both contain polyphenols that interact with plaque bacteria and prevents it from growing. Add to this, fluoride, if using the right type of water.
The losers
These are the foods that promote decay, so you’ll want to stay away from them.
- Sweets and sticky candy
- Starchy foods that get stuck in the mouth
- Soft drinks that are carbonated
- Materials that dry the mouth, such as some medicines and alcohol
The worst candies are lollipops, caramels, and cough drops that have refined sugar. Sweets that clear the mouth quickly are a better choice. Chocolate washes off the teeth more easily, and dark chocolate is said to have health benefits.
Starchy foods, such as potato chips, get stuck between teeth and promote decay.
Please your mouth and your teeth
Eating for a healthier mouth involves following some tips:
- Eat the sugary foods with meals, as saliva is being made
- Limit between meal snacking
- Drink more water and that with fluoride
- Brush teeth twice a day
- Floss once a day
If you may already have cavities or want to get a dental checkup, contact us for an appointment. We’re your holistic Ottawa family dentist.
