We all know the phrase: “You are what you eat!”, but that phrase cannot be more true than when it comes to your oral/dental health. There are certain foods you should consume sparingly and there are certain foods you should incorporate into your diet as much as possible. Our body is comprised of 60-70% water and the food we eat are the ingredients that help to properly balance that water’s pH level. Our pH level helps determine our overall health and assist in regulating bacteria levels throughout our system. Read below to find out more about which foods you should be consuming and which foods you should be avoiding in order to regulate your body to the best of its ability.
Good Foods & Beverages
Foods that are good for your oral health are ones that do not contain sugars, first and foremost. Then, foods that are “scrubbers” are great for your oral health. “Scrubbers” are foods that are crisp, fibrous, and natural. Examples of such foods are: celery, apples, carrots, and any other fruit or vegetable that really has some toughness and scrubbing ability to its flesh and/or composition. These foods also promote saliva production, which will in turn help reduce the amount of plaque bacteria within your mouth.
Beverages that are good for your oral health are basically anything that doesn’t have added sugars or alcohol. Water, tea, natural/organic juices, organic milk, etc… These beverages promote general well-being and allow your teeth to not be eroded by high amounts of sugar, which is the leading contributor to tooth decay.
The Overall Consensus
Diet not only benefits oral health, it benefits your greater being. The choices you make each and every day in terms of what you’re eating will affect you one way or another. As mentioned earlier, the main contributing factor to a mouth full of cavities is a high sugar diet combined with poor oral hygiene. When you think of the pH levels in your body, think of the fact that our body is essentially a pool, and when a pool has an unbalanced pH level, whether too acidic or too basic, certain bacteria will thrive and certain bacteria will die. The key is to find the perfect balance to the best of your ability and go from there. We hope this article has been informative and we hope it inspires you to make the change today to start incorporating healthy foods into your diet and removing the unhealthy foods as soon as possible!
If you are ready for your next dental appointment, contact us today. Dr. Ghimire and our team will help you achieve the best in oral health!