How the Food You Eat Affects Your Oral Health

Most people already know how certain food items can affect the teeth, mainly as to how some can lead to discoloration, as well as other oral problems.

Regular consumption of sugary sweets, for one, is notorious for causing poor health, which is why most dental professionals discourage doing so. However, the connection between the food you eat and your oral health goes much deeper than that.

Proper Nutrition and Your Teeth

Proper nutrition, to put it simply, means eating a well-balanced diet consisting of a healthy dose of fruits, vegetables, lean protein, dairy and of course, whole grain.

If your diet is low in any one of the essential nutrients that the body needs to function properly, not only will it make you feel weak or sleepy, your immune system is also compromised. This makes it harder for your body to resist infection, which may end up putting you at risk for periodontal disease.

While periodontal disease is not directly caused by poor nutrition, it has been proven that the disease does progress much faster and the cases much more severe in malnourished people as compared to those who regularly consume well-balanced meals.

What Is a Well-Balanced Diet?

The body needs six – not five, not four, not seven – essential nutrients to function properly, like a well-oiled machine.

The six essential nutrients are as follows:

• Carbohydrates
• Protein
• Fat
• Vitamins
• Minerals
• Water

The only way that the body gets all these nutrients on a daily basis is by eating a balanced, nutritious diet.

A well-balanced diet consists of food items that has plenty of any one or a combination of the essential nutrients listed above.

Take particular note of these particular food items if you plan on making the necessary changes to your diet:

• Fruits and vegetables. These two food groups have the potential to supply the body of all the essential nutrients it needs – and more! It is recommended to make sure that half of what you eat every day is comprised of fruits and/or vegetables.
• Whole grain – Whole grain, in particular, is recommended because it is much healthier and rich in fiber. Food items such as oatmeal, whole wheat bread and brown rice should be part of a balanced, nutritious diet.
• Dairy. While milk or cheese contains sugar, they are a necessary part of a balanced diet because of the many important nutrients that they can supply the human body.
• Lean proteins. Lean beef, poultry and fish, as well as eggs, beans, peas and legumes are excellent sources of protein and should be part of your daily diet.

By acting and starting to follow a balanced diet as soon as today, as well as making it a point to live a healthy and active lifestyle, you will soon be reaping the benefits of making such life choices.

Of course, you shouldn’t forget about visiting the dentist twice a year for professional cleanings and checkups, as well as to take proper care of your teeth at home by brushing for two minutes twice a day and by flossing.

This national nutrition month, make it a point to start living a better lifestyle than once you did – your body and your teeth will surely thank for it!

If you’re worried about your oral health or need to schedule a regular checkup, contact Dr. Graham Farless DDS at 336-282-2868. Or visit www.gsodentist.com to learn more about Dr. Graham Farless and his team.