Dr. Michael C. Byars, Liberty, MO dentist, tells his patients that oral function and smile aesthetics depend, in large part, on what you put in your mouth. In fact, a nutritious diet keeps enamel strong and gums pink and intact.
Limit sugars and carbohydrates
Your mouth is teeming with bacteria. Dentists agree that one kind of bacteria causes decay, and another causes the most damaging variety of gum disease–periodontitis. While heredity, hygiene habits and systemic health factor into how healthy your mouth is, what you eat and drink do, too. In particular, sugary drinks and foods along with carbohydrate-rich choices foster bacterial growth simply because they stick to teeth.
Food residues form soft plaque and hard tartar. The bacteria in this biofilm secrete acids that lead to decay and gum disease. Both conditions are some of the biggest chronic health problems in the world today.
To optimize dental health, the American Dental Association recommends this simple rule: think before eating and drinking. If you reduce starches and acidic foods and increase healthy choices, the changes will show when Dr. Byars sees you for your 6-month oral exam and cleaning.
Is healthy eating easy?
Well, the answer is that good nutrition is not always easy simply because American diets are loaded with processed, high-sugar foods. However, the Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion, part of the US Department of Agriculture, partners with citizens and their physicians and dentists in helping all of us transition to better eating and exercise, too. Check out the website ChooseMyPlate.gov.
Your Liberty, MO dentist says you’ll find recipes and tips on making over your diet so it’s tooth-friendly. Fruits, veggies, dairy products, whole grains and proteins, all in the right balance, crowd out unhealthy choices. Added gradually, good food makes for bright smiles and trimmer waistlines.
How to start
Without getting too complicated, read here about the the building blocks of eating right for a healthy mouth and healthy you.
Choose high fiber fruits and vegetables. They increase beneficial saliva and in conjunction with brushing and flossing, keep tooth enamel and gums clean. Strive for up to 4 servings of fruit and up to 5 servings of vegetables.
Also, the US Department of Agriculture recommends 6 to 11 servings of high-grain, high-fiber cereals and breads. Eliminate super starchy white bread and sugary breakfast cereals. Look to the top and bottom shelves at your supermarket for nutritious selections.
Dairy products help bones and teeth. Cheese, skim milk, yogurt and other dairy products add bone- and tooth-building calcium to your system. They’re are not just for kids. Adults need them, too, particularly as we age.
Low fat meats contain amino acids that maintain gum tissue. Poultry, fish and eggs have system-wide benefits.
Drink 8 glasses of water daily. Water increases metabolic activity, aids digestion and stops you from overeating.While 64 ounces of water sounds like a lot, you can do it if you spread it out through the day and substitute it for high-sugar soda pop and sports drinks.
An ounce of prevention…
In Liberty, MO, consult with Dr. Michael C. Byars. He believes preventive dental care includes eating right. Call the office today to schedule your 6-month cleaning and exam.