Proper nutrition can benefit you in several ways; increased energy, improved immunity, glowing skin, mental clarity, and a lower risk of heart disease and stroke. How often, however, do you examine how your diet impacts your oral health? At Cary Family Dental, we can determine if your diet is negatively impacting your oral health.
Your diet can influence your risk of cavities, enamel health, and gum condition. Healthy foods provide an environment that can restrict inflammation and infection. Vegetables, fruits, legumes, and nuts are the optimal choices for oral health. Calcium-fortified beverages, milk, and other dairy products provide vitamins, minerals, and calcium that assist in keeping teeth, bones, and gums healthy. Eating crispy fruits and vegetables, such as apples and celery, will help clean your teeth and gums.
A healthy diet contains all the critical vitamins and minerals, and the most important mineral for teeth is fluoride – especially for kids. Between the ages of 6 months and 16 years old, both the primary and the permanent teeth come in, therefore adequate fluoride is critical.
Don’t forget, however, that too much fluoride is dangerous. Dr. Allan Acton can counsel you on the accurate dosage of fluoride for your child, taking into account whether your municipal water is fluoridated.
Even though adults’ teeth have already formed, fluoride helps with remineralizing weakened enamel to a degree. This effective mineral is applied to teeth during extensive dental cleanings at Cary Family Dental and daily with fluoride toothpaste.
Bacteria that cause enamel-destroying plaque love a steady diet of sugar—from soda, candy, and even fruit juices. When enamel wears away, the teeth become vulnerable to cavities, damage, and staining.
Sugary foods that are especially detrimental are those that get trapped in the spaces between teeth and the tiny pits and cracks in the molars. Candies that are chewy or hard can lodge in these spaces and allow for the harmful sugar to have direct contact with enamel until brushing occurs. Sticky candy can also damage braces and retainers. More than one retainer has fallen prey to sticky caramel or hard taffy.
Be sure to brush after each meal and before bed. Moreover, remember to floss or use a water irrigating method to dislodge food particles trapped in spaces. By eating well, brushing properly, flossing regularly, and avoiding foods that stick to your teeth, you can have a beautiful smile for life. (And, hopefully, the physical well-being to complement that pleasing smile and the energy to enjoy both.)
I’m Dr. Allan Acton, and I have a full-service dental practice in Cary. Helping my dental patients stay healthy is important to me, and so is helping them achieve the smile they want through cosmetic dentistry services such as veneers, teeth whitening, and smile transformations.
Cary Family Dental in Cary has been serving the Raleigh area since 2003. Please contact us at 919-371-4428 if you are looking for trusted dental care from a local Cary dentist with the experience, expertise, and personalized attention you deserve.
Contact Cary Family Dental:
919-371-4428
Location (Tap to open in Google Maps):
915 Kildaire Farm Rd
Cary, North Carolina
27511
