All of your body’s systems are intrinsically linked, which means improving your overall health could also be beneficial for your teeth and gums. If you’re making strides toward eating well, getting healthy, and losing weight, then consider these oral health benefits as a little extra motivation to reach your goals!
1. Improving your nutrition intake can benefit your teeth and gums.
Maintaining a nutritious diet can improve your overall health. By kicking those indulgent foods and, instead, developing healthy meal plans, you can both lose weight and benefit your oral health in a myriad of ways. For starters, you’ll likely be eating more fruits and vegetables, which actually help to boost your saliva production. Saliva is important for naturally washing away plaque and debris, so this can protect your teeth from decay. Lean proteins and dairy are also hugely important for your oral health. Dairy products, in particular, can strengthen your teeth because they’re full of calcium.
2. Opting for water instead of soda helps you fight dry mouth.
Did you know that 1 in 4 Americans add an extra 200 calories per day by drinking soda? By substituting soda with water, you’ll not only cut your calories, but you’ll also improve your oral health. Drinking water helps to combat dry mouth, which can lead to issues like tooth decay, gum disease, halitosis, and even difficulty swallowing or speaking. Drinking fluoridated water also helps to strengthen your dental enamel against decay, whereas the sugar in sodas tends to cause decay!
3. Skipping the sugary sweets can reduce your risk of cavities.
Sugary sweets don’t only harm your weight loss progress, they harm your teeth as well! The sugar in your desserts feed the bacteria in plaque and, if not quickly brushed away, can lead to tooth decay. Therefore, instead of eating dessert, try curbing your cravings by chewing on sugarless gum! Chewing gum that contains xylitol can actually help strengthen your dental enamel as you chew.
4. Limiting your snacking minimizes the damage from “acid attacks” caused by plaque.
Munching on unhealthy snacks like chips or crackers can let your caloric intake get away from you if you’re not careful. Also, by snacking frequently, it increases your teeth’s exposure to harmful acids. Each time you eat, the plaque on your teeth feeds on the sugars in your food and, in turn, releases harmful acids on your teeth. Your body can usually fight against these “acid attacks.” However, if you eat frequently over an extended period of time, it gets more and more difficult for your dental enamel to remineralize after an attack. This ultimately leads to decay. Therefore, be sure to limit your snacking and, if you do snack, try to stick to healthy fruits and vegetables!
Would you like to learn more ways to protect your oral health? Call Manus Dental in Hyde Park, Lake Zurich, or Yorkville today to schedule your next dental check-up!