Diet and Dental Health: How What You Eat Affects Your Teeth

July 19, 2024

While we often focus on how our diet impacts our overall health, it's important to remember that what we eat also affects our dental health. Just like certain foods can enhance or harm our bodies, they can also strengthen or damage our teeth. For those pursuing an online nurse practitioner degree, understanding how what we eat affects our teeth can be especially valuable in promoting patient health.

Why diet is important for dental health

Your mouth, teeth, and gums make up the first part of your digestive system. They need to be healthy to function properly. When you eat, your teeth break down the food with the help of saliva so it's easier to swallow. If you have missing teeth because of a poor diet, it can make chewing and swallowing difficult, which increases the risk of choking or indigestion.

The best foods for healthy teeth

Fruits and vegetables

Fruits and vegetables that are high in water and fiber help to keep your gums and teeth clean by stimulating saliva production. This increased saliva washes away harmful acids and food particles, reducing the risk of tooth decay. Vitamin A,  which is an essential nutrient for building tooth enamel, can be found in orange-colored fruits and vegetables like bell peppers, sweet potatoes, and carrots.

Dairy products

Dairy products and foods high in calcium are essential for developing and maintaining strong teeth. Eating cheese and yogurt, and drinking milk, can also replenish minerals that your teeth might have lost from other foods. It helps rebuild tooth enamel and can also be found in broccoli, nuts, and sunflower seeds.

Oily fish

Oily fish like mackerel, salmon, and herring are rich in vitamin D and phosphorus, which are vital for dental health. Vitamin D helps prevent gingival inflammation, cavities, and gum disease, while phosphorus aids in the absorption of calcium and strengthens teeth by protecting and rebuilding tooth enamel.

Green and black teas

Green and black teas contain polyphenols that interact with plaque bacteria by preventing their growth or killing them directly. This action prevents the bacteria from producing acid that harms teeth. Brewing tea with water with added fluoride can further benefit dental health.

The worst foods for dental health

You can probably guess what the worst foods for your teeth are. Those full of sugar, especially hard and sticky candies like lollipops and caramels, are major culprits. Eating sugar causes a buildup of plaque - a bacteria-filled film that coats your teeth and causes gum disease and tooth decay. The sugar causes bacteria to release acids that attack the tooth enamel, leading to cavities. Plaque can start to form as quickly as 20 minutes after you’ve eaten.

Other foods that are bad for your teeth include starchy foods like bread and potato chips. These can get stuck between your teeth and cause cavities. Wholemeal breads are a healthier choice since they contain less sugar.
Soft drinks are also one of the worst offenders for causing tooth decay. They’re loaded with sugar and contain citric acid, which wears away at tooth enamel. Plus, darker-colored sodas can discolor and stain your teeth. While water is good for your dental hygiene, chewing on ice is not. It can damage the enamel, cause chipped or broken teeth, and loosen crowns.

You can help reverse sugar damage to your teeth by eating a diet rich in calcium and phosphates and adding fluoride to your water. If you’re following a diet, make sure you’re getting enough essential vitamins and minerals necessary for healthy teeth.

Other ways to improve dental health

While eating a healthy balanced diet is the best way to keep your teeth in good shape, there are other important steps you can take to maintain dental health.

Brush your teeth regularly

It’s best to brush your teeth last thing at night and at least one other time during the day, using a toothpaste containing fluoride, to help prevent tooth decay.

Chew sugar-free gum

Studies show that chewing sugar-free gum after meals can help prevent decay by boosting saliva production, which helps wash away harmful acids.

Floss daily

Flossing once a day helps remove food particles that get stuck between your teeth, which brushing alone might not catch.

Regular visits to the dentist

Seeing your dentist regularly can help catch potential teeth and gum problems before they become serious.
Taking care of your dental health is a vital part of your overall well-being. Adopt these simple yet effective habits to keep your teeth and gums healthy today to ensure a brighter smile tomorrow.

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