We all try to do everything we can to take great care of our teeth. However, one of the key things that often gets overlooked is that our diets can drastically affect our oral hygiene and the overall health of our mouth, tongue, teeth, and gums; what we eat and drink impacts how our teeth look by causing stains and discoloration. Our diet can impact the health of our teeth and gums by weakening the enamel, causing gum erosion and gum disease, and other oral health issues.
At Pediatric Dentistry and Orthodontics of Jackson, we want to make sure our patients have all the tools and information they need to take excellent care of their teeth so that they last for years to come and their smile stays looking their best. That’s why our dentists offer dietary recommendations as a service to our patients, both young and old.
Diet Changes to Protect Your Teeth
It’s important to know that it’s not just what you eat but also how you eat and how much certain substances matter to health.
One of the first things to do to take care of your teeth is to limit snacking, especially on sweets and sugary items. Sugar in candies and soft drinks is just plain bad for your teeth. If you or your child needs a snack during the day, stick to their sweet alternatives like apples, which have natural sugars that aren’t as harmful to the teeth as processed sugars. You can still have your sweets at mealtime. Just remember to brush and floss afterward!
Sipping sugary drinks is also a habit you don’t want you or your child to start. Sweetened juices and soft drinks can weaken the enamel of the teeth and make it difficult to protect the overall health of the teeth. Only drink sugary beverages at mealtime and brush and floss thoroughly to prevent buildup.
It’s also essential for children to always use clean utensils and to make sure to avoid sugars, especially if they have a habit of sucking on straws and other objects, as this can damage teeth. The key is to eat healthily, avoid sugar, and brush and floss often to keep nice healthy teeth.
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