|
|
| |
|
|
| |
Eat For a Beautiful Smile
A few simple changes to your diet can help keep your
teeth healthy for life
By Denise Foley
WebMD Feature from "Prevention" Magazine
You
brush, you floss, you see your dentist, but do you
eat with your oral health in mind?
"We all know excellent nutrition helps build an
excellent body," says Paula Shannon Jones, DDS,
spokesperson for the Academy of General Dentistry.
"So it follows that whatever you eat affects your
teeth and gums, too."
And it's not just the usual suspects like sugar that
may be harmful. Some surprising--even healthy--foods
can cause cavities, while others can help protect
you from decay, gum disease, and even bad breath.
Here's how to tailor your diet for optimal dental
health.
Eat carbs at mealtimes
A handful of potato chips or even a whole wheat roll
can be just as damaging to your teeth and gums as a
chocolate chip cookie. All carbohydrates break down
into simple sugars, which are ultimately converted
by bacteria in the mouth into plaque, a sticky
residue that is the primary cause of gum disease and
cavities.
Carb-based
foods such as breads and crackers tend to have "a
chewy, adhesive texture," making it easier for them
to get caught between teeth or under the gum line,
where bacteria can then accumulate, says Christine
Gerbstadt, MD, RD, a spokesperson for the American
Dietetic Association. Have carbs at mealtimes rather
than as a snack: When you eat a larger amount of
food, you produce more saliva, which helps wash food
particles away.
Drink tea
Black and green teas contain polyphenols,
antioxidant plant compounds that prevent plaque from
adhering to your teeth and help reduce your chances
of developing cavities and gum disease. "Tea also
has potential for reducing bad breath because it
inhibits the growth of the bacteria that cause the
odor," explains Christine D. Wu, PhD, associate dean
for research at the University of Illinois at
Chicago College of Dentistry, who has conducted
several studies on tea and oral health. Many teas
also contain fluoride (from the leaves and the water
it's steeped in), which helps protect tooth enamel
from decay.
Sip with a straw
Most sodas, sports drinks, and juices contain acids,
such as citric and phosphoric, that can erode dental
enamel--even if they're diet or sugar-free versions.
Sipping acidic drinks through a straw positioned
toward the back of your mouth limits their contact
with your teeth and helps preserve the enamel, says
a study in the British Dental Journal.
Increase your C intake
"Vitamin C is the cement that holds all of your
cells together, so just as it's vital for your skin,
it's important for the health of your gum tissue,"
says Jones. People who consumed less than 60 mg per
day of C (8 ounces of orange juice or one orange
contains more than 80 mg) were 25% more likely to
have gum disease than people who took in 180 mg or
more, according to a study of over 12,000 US adults
conducted at the State University of New York
University at Buffalo.
Eat 800 mg of calcium a day
People who do are less likely to develop severe gum
disease, says a recent study by the Buffalo
researchers. The reason: About 99% of the calcium in
your body is in your bones and teeth. Dietary
calcium--available in foods like cheese, milk, and
yogurt--strengthens the alveolar bone in the jaw,
which helps hold your teeth in place. The
recommended amount is 1,000 mg per day for women
younger than 50 and 1,200 mg for those older.
©
WebMD. All rights reserved.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
"We all
know excellent nutrition helps build an excellent body,
so it follows that whatever you eat affects your teeth
and gums, too." |
| |
|
|
|
| |
|
|
It's
easy to stay up to date on the things that interest you.
Just 
