If you eat a lot of sugary foods and drink a lot of soda, maybe it is time for you to reflect upon your dietary choices. When you eat and drink starchy and sugary meals, you’re not just nourishing yourself, but also feeding the bacteria in your mouth that can cause tooth decay and gum disease. Plaque is a thin, sticky coating of bacteria and other things that is undetectable to the naked eye. It protects all of your teeth’s surfaces. Acids occur when sugars or carbohydrates in your mouth come into contact with plaque. These acids can eat away at your teeth for up to 20 minutes after you’ve finished eating. The strong enamel on the surface of teeth can be eroded by repeated strikes. Tooth decay happens as a result of this. Plaque bacteria also causes an inflammatory reaction. The gums, bone, and other supporting elements of your teeth deteriorate as a result of this. While some foods invite tooth decay, others help fight the plaque buildup. Listed below are the best and worst food items for teeth:
What Should You Stay Away From?
Sticky candies and sweets:
If you must consume sweets, choose those that dissolve rapidly in your mouth. Refined sugar-containing lollipops, caramels, and cough drops get a thumbs down. The benefits of chocolate in avoiding cavities have long been touted (largely by studies funded by the candy industry). This hasn’t been confirmed conclusively. However, according to the American Dental Association, chocolate washes off the teeth faster than other candy. There are some health benefits to dark chocolate (70 percent cacao). According to some studies, chocolate isn’t as terrible as other sweet foods.
Starchy foods that can get stuck in your mouth:
Foods with a high starch content can become lodged in your teeth. For example, soft breads and potato chips can get stuck between your teeth.
Carbonated soft drinks:
These drinks are the most common source of added sugar among children and teenagers. They are high in sugar. Furthermore, most soft drinks include phosphoric and citric acids, which erode tooth enamel.
Substances that dry out your mouth:
Among these include alcohol and a variety of medications. If medications are the source of your problem, talk to your dentist about receiving a fluoride rinse or a fluoride gel to brush your teeth with.
What Are The Good Food Items?
Fiber-rich fruits and vegetables:
Fiber-rich foods help keep your teeth and gums clean. They also cause saliva to flow. This is your strongest natural defense against cavities and gum disease, aside from good home dental care. Your saliva begins to lessen the impact of the acids and enzymes assaulting your teeth about 20 minutes after you consume something with sugars or starches. Calcium and phosphate traces can be found in saliva. As a result, it restores minerals to parts of the teeth that have been stripped away by bacterial acids.
Cheese, milk, plain yogurt, and other dairy products:
Another saliva-inducing food is cheese. Milk, cheese, and other dairy items provide calcium and phosphates, which assist your teeth reclaim nutrients that have been lost owing to other foods. They also aid in the restoration of tooth enamel.
Green and black teas:
Polyphenols in both of these teas interact with plaque microorganisms. These compounds either kill or prevent bacteria from multiplying. This stops bacteria from multiplying or producing acid that harms teeth. A cup of tea can be a source of fluoride depending on the type of water you use to prepare it.
Sugarless chewing gums:
Another excellent saliva producer that eliminates food particles from your mouth is this one.
Fluoride-containing foods:
Fluoridated water, or any product made with fluoridated water, is beneficial to your teeth. Powdered juices (as long as they don’t include a lot of sugar) and dehydrated soups are examples of this. Fluoride can also be found in commercially prepared foods such poultry, shellfish, and powdered cereals.
Where To Seek Help?
If you are looking for cosmetic dentistry, Cosmodontist Dental Implant Centre is the best dental clinic in Gurgaon. With a skilled and experienced team of doctors, led by Dr. Nilay Bhatia and Dr. Vidushi Mayor, Cosmodontist is a one-stop hub for all the needs of your teeth. It provides its patients with the best services and quality dental care, owing to its top-notch technology and highly experienced doctors.
For more such tips and tricks, schedule an appointment today!
