Dental Health and Your Diet

Sugar is the main cause of dental decay when bacteria are present. However, the frequency of your sugar consumption is more important than the amount consumed.

Frequent soda consumption or snacking can largely affect the health of your teeth. It is recommended to consume these types of foods in one sitting, especially after meals or desserts. Eating or drinking something sweet over an extended period of time creates a constant supply of sugar for bacteria- which eventually results in tooth decay.

It is important to be aware of all the possible sources of sugar that exists. It is not limited to sweet foods, other types of food can be converted into sugar such as bread. Cutting down your sugar intake is good for cavity prevention, as well as your dental health.

But what about when you have to have sugar? The best way to avoid cavities is to prevent the sugar from staying next to your teeth. It is recommended to brush your teeth after consuming foods with sugar, using Fluoride mouth wash or chewing sugarless gum can help. In general however, avoiding as much sugar as you can remains the best practice.

Some people believe that chewing foods like apples and carrots may have some plaque removal effects, but they still contain some sugar, so any advantage is not clear.

Another group of food that causes significant damage to teeth structure is acidic food. If foods such as lime, lemon, and grapes have prolonged contact with your teeth, then serious irreversible damage (erosion) may occur.

If you live in or around Glenview, don’t hesitate to call us with your oral health questions.
Dental Health & Diet - Glenlake Dental Care

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