When it comes to your dental health, your diet plays a larger role than you’d think. Our diets impact our energy levels, our weight and can even impact how our hormones interact with our bodies. Most often, people don’t think about their teeth and gums with what they eat. But if we don’t get enough nutrients, then our mouths can be vulnerable to diseases such as gum disease and tooth decay. Why are our mouths so sensitive to what we eat? It’s because our bodies are more intricately connected with what we eat. We’re here to provide some insight into why your diet matters for your oral health and what you can do to keep your teeth healthy.

How Your Diet Influences Your Oral Health

Our mouths are part of our body’s defense against diseases, as our bodies contain a natural host of good bacteria that works to protect us from viruses and harmful bacteria. Referred to as the gut microbiome, these strains of bacteria help regulate our digestive tract and keep our bodies stable when metabolizing energy and gaining nutrients. However, harmful strains of bacteria can easily infect our mouths and introduce them to our systems. These collections of cavity-causing bacteria can not only affect our mouths but also lead to an increased risk of respiratory diseases and digestion issues. When these strains of bacteria infect the gumline, our diets can easily feed into those harmful strains, creating more plaque and leading to horrible diseases such as periodontal disease and tooth decay!

What You Should Eat To Protect Your Teeth

To combat this long-standing issue, regular brushing and flossing can only do so much. Having good oral health also means taking the initiative to make life-long habits, which include changing our diets. Diet and exercise have always been reinforced as some of the healthiest ways to care for our health and our oral health is no exception. Our diet should contain nutritious foods with vitamins and minerals essential for healthy teeth and gums, including:

• Foods High In Vitamin A, D, and C: Some popular foods that hold a lot of these vitamins include salmon, mushrooms, oranges, strawberries, and hard-boiled eggs. 
• Dairy Products With Calcium: Milk, cheeses, and yogurts are excellent sources of calcium and vitamin D, and if you’re going vegan, then tofu and soy options can also provide those needed nutrients. 
• Fluoridated or Mineralized Water: Mineralized water can not only provide nutrients but also induce saliva production to clean your teeth!
• Vegetables and Fruits High in Fiber: Apples, beets, broccoli, bananas, and carrots are some excellent sources of fiber you can use to keep your body and teeth healthy. 

For more information about maintaining your oral health for life, visit your local dentist today and get the most out of your appointment.