Does Diet Matter? How What You Eat Impacts Your Oral Health

You want to do all you can to prevent gum disease, decay, and oral infections.

So, you brush and floss daily , follow your El Segundo dentist’s oral health recommendations, and visit your dentist for regular check-ups.

What else can you do to keep your teeth and gums healthy and strong? Focus on your diet.

Research has shown there’s a definite link between diet and oral health. What you eat matters, and we’ll show you what foods can improve or hinder the health of your teeth and gums.

What Is the Link Between Diet and Oral Health?

Is there proof that diet and oral health are linked? Absolutely!

Diet and Gum Health

What you eat impacts your gums . For example, recent research shows that vitamin C can positively impact gum health . Researchers found that when humans are deficient in vitamin C, it can result in:

• Spongy feeling gums
• Swollen, bleeding gums
• Impaired wound healing

Vitamin C has an antioxidant effect on the body, which can help prevent gum disease or slow its progression.

The texture of raw fruits and vegetables can also help clean away plaque when you chew them, contributing to cleaner teeth.

Diet, Tooth, and Bone Health

Your diet can improve the strength of your enamel. Stronger enamel means fewer cavities.

Some vitamins and minerals that promote enamel health include:

• Calcium: Calcium strengthens bones and enamel.
• Vitamin D: This vitamin boosts mineral density, helping reduce your risk of decay and encouraging strong, healthy jawbones. Vitamin D also helps your body absorb calcium.
• Phosphorus: This mineral helps rebuild enamel.
• Vitamin A: Enamel contains a protein called keratin, and vitamin A helps with the formation process of that protein.
• Vitamin K: Vitamin K is a calcium binder that helps strengthen teeth and contributes to bone growth and density.

Does Water Play a Role in Your Oral Health?

The human body is approximately 50% to 70% water. Therefore, it’s essential to your overall and oral health to stay hydrated.

What Causes Xerostomia?

Xerostomia, or dry mouth, is a serious issue. The lack of adequate saliva can increase your risk of decay and gum disease. It can also make it difficult to speak, chew, and swallow your food comfortably.

A lack of saliva can also contribute to poor digestion and nutrient absorption. This is because saliva contains enzymes that start the digestive process.

Several factors contribute to xerostomia, including:

• Dehydration
• Certain medications (particularly allergy meds, antidepressants, mood stabilizers, and bladder medications)
• Radiation treatment for cancer (any type, not just oral cancer)
• Nerve damage
• Alcohol, tobacco, and recreational drug use

What Can Help Ease the Symptoms of Xerostomia?

To stay well-hydrated, drink plenty of water. For adults, that includes eight to 15 cups per day, depending on whether you’re male or female and how much you weigh.

Your El Segundo dentist can also recommend or prescribe lozenges to promote better saliva flow.

What Foods Should You Limit or Eliminate from Your Diet?

One of the best things you can do for your overall and oral health is to reduce sugary, processed foods from your diet.

Simple sugars contribute to increased bacteria and oral acids, which attack the enamel and cause decay. Sugar can also cause an inflammatory response in the body, putting you at a higher risk of gum disease.

Processed foods also often contain high sodium levels, contributing to bloating, inflammation, and dehydration.

The chemicals in processed foods can deplete the body of helpful nutrients, leading to various levels of malnutrition. Lack of nutrients can lead to weak teeth and bones.

What Foods Promote Good Oral Health?

Vitamin C is one of the most critical vitamins for oral health. It impacts your teeth, gums, and jawbones. Getting plenty of vitamin C can even help reduce your risk of oral infections.

Consuming vitamin C in raw, natural forms is vital as it’s not stored in the body. Plus, overcooking foods or storing them for prolonged periods destroys the nutrients.

Foods high in vitamin C include:

• Citrus fruits
• Strawberries
• Tomatoes
• Bell peppers
• Cruciferous vegetables

How can you ensure you get enough vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants in your diet? Make sure your diet consists of these gum and enamel-strengthening foods.

• Calcium: Foods high in calcium include dairy products, fortified juices, winter squash, soy products (tofu and edamame), fortified non-dairy products, certain fish, almonds, and leafy greens.
• Vitamin D: Sunlight is the best source of vitamin D. But if you’re like most people, you’re not getting enough exposure. Health News Today says people with fair skin should opt for 15 minutes of direct sun exposure daily, while those with darker skin often require a couple of hours. (Don’t forget to wear sunscreen!) Dietary sources of vitamin D include fish, fish oils, beef liver, as well as fortified juices and dairy products. You can also take a vitamin D supplement.
• Phosphorus: Phosphorus is found in chicken, turkey, seafood, dairy, sunflower and pumpkin seeds, nuts, whole grains, quinoa and amaranth, beans, lentils, and soy products.
• Vitamin A: Most foods high in vitamin A are orange, including carrots, sweet potatoes, and cantaloupe. Other foods high in this vitamin include leafy green veggies, tomatoes, beef liver, red bell pepper, fish oils, and summer and winter squash.
• Vitamin K: Dark, leafy green vegetables, soybean oil, and foods fortified with vitamin K (like meal replacement shakes).

Also, don’t forget to drink plenty of water each day!

How Your El Segundo Dentist Can Help You Achieve Optimal Oral Health

One of the best things you can do to achieve and maintain good oral health is to visit your El Segundo dentist regularly.

We recommend dental cleanings and check-ups every six months. These regular appointments can help us monitor your oral health, prevent dental diseases, and catch issues early should they arise.

During these visits, your dental team will take the time to discuss your:

• Oral health practices
• Diet
• Stress level
• Sleep routine

All these factors play an essential role in your general and oral health. We want to help you stay healthy, happy, and well, so we’ll work with you to find ways to ensure that happens.

If you’d like more oral health recommendations, contact El Segundo Modern Dentistry & Orthodontics at 424-277-2671. Or use our online contact form to request an appointment or ask a question.