Better Nutrition for a Better Smile: 4 Tips to Improve Your Oral Health

Did you know there’s a direct connection between your oral health and the health of the rest of your body? What affects the health of one affects the health of the other. For instance, gum disease affects your heart health, and diabetes is linked to a higher risk of cavities. Researchers refer to this as “the oral-systemic connection.”

At our dental office in Florida, your health matters to us. While we take care of your dental health, we also have a deep understanding of the oral-systemic connection and are dedicated to ensuring that you are as healthy as possible.

You’re likely already aware of the connection between a healthy diet and a healthy body. Fewer people, however, are aware of the connection between a healthy diet and a healthy smile. The choices you make about the food you eat have a lasting impact on the health and appearance of your smile. Your dentist in Florida is happy to provide recommendations and guide you toward healthier eating habits.

Eat a Variety of Fruits and Vegetables

Fruits and vegetables are packed with the nutrients your body needs to build healthy teeth, protect your teeth by strengthening your enamel, and prevent gum disease by improving your immune system so it can fight off infection.

Additionally, just the act of eating produce makes your teeth healthier! The crunch of an apple or a raw carrot is great for keeping teeth strong, the fiber in most fruits and vegetables acts like a natural toothbrush to remove plaque, and the high water content helps wash away damaging acid.

Choose Foods High in Vitamins and Minerals 

Your bones—and by extension, your teeth—require plenty of vitamins and minerals to stay healthy and strong. Some minerals, like calcium, help your build and maintain bone structure while others, like phosphorus, help you rebuild your enamel to avoid cavities. Several vitamins, like vitamins C and A, protect against gum disease while Vitamin D helps your body absorb calcium.

What vitamins and minerals should you be including in your diet to protect your teeth and gums?

Calcium—dairy foods (milk, cheese, yogurt), broccoli, carrots, tofu, almonds, leafy greens

Phosphorus—fish, poultry, beef, dairy, legumes, nuts

Potassium—bananas, avocados, tomatoes, potatoes, swiss chard, legumes, winter squash

Vitamin A—leafy green vegetables, orange- and yellow-colored fruits and vegetables (carrots, sweet potatoes, oranges, cantaloupe), oily fish (salmon, tuna), dairy, eggs

Vitamin C—citrus fruits (oranges, lemons, grapefruit), leafy greens, berries, bell peppers, cruciferous vegetables (broccoli, cauliflower), tomatoes

Vitamin D—mushrooms, oily fish, fortified milk (actually, the best way to get vitamin D is from the sun!)

Vitamin K—leafy greens, brussels sprouts, soybean and canola oil, fermented soybeans, meat, cheese, eggs

There’s one more mineral that’s critical for dental health—fluoride. Fluoride helps prevent and even reverse cavities. The best source for fluoride isn’t food, though. It’s fluoridated toothpaste and tap water. Most municipal water supplies are fluoridated, so drinking tap water will provide you with sufficient fluoride for healthy teeth.

We know that some people live where drinking tap water isn’t a preferred option. Let us know if you avoid tap water so we can discuss whether you’re getting sufficient fluoride from your toothpaste or if another option is needed.

Limit Snacking Throughout the Day 

We would never tell you not to snack. That’s not realistic, and besides, we enjoy a snack now and then too! We do want to encourage you to snack intentionally, however, and not munch mindlessly throughout the day.

The digestion process begins in the mouth before you swallow your food. Your teeth break down the stiffer fibers and structures of the food, and the enzymes in your saliva take it a step further, beginning to break down the food into micronutrients (like the vitamins and minerals we just mentioned) and macronutrients, like individual proteins, fats, and carbohydrates, also known as sugars.

Just like protein and fat, the sugar molecules in carbohydrates are critical for proper bodily functions. Your body breaks down sugar for energy to fuel metabolic processes and keep your brain functioning.

The problem is that when sugar stays in the mouth for long periods of time, the result is cavities. When you frequently snack throughout the day, your teeth are constantly exposed to the acids produced when bacteria in your mouth break down the sugar and convert it into acid. Your teeth simply can’t get a break, and over time, decay is inevitable.

Stick to two snacks between three healthy meals and you should feel full and satisfied, and your teeth will thank you for it.

Hydrate Throughout the Day

If you’re trying to break the habit of snacking throughout the day, the solution could be to swap your snacks for a water bottle! In addition to rinsing away acid and bacteria from your teeth, water also helps keep your mucus membranes hydrated to avoid dry mouth, which can lead to gum disease and tooth decay. 

Your body needs plenty of water to function at its best. We are, after all, made of water, and without it, we wouldn’t last very long at all. While there’s no agreement on precisely how much water you should drink, most people aren’t drinking enough, so just taking the extra step of filling a water bottle and keeping it close at hand throughout the day often helps. Plus, if you’re filling your bottle from a tap in a city or town with fluoridated water, you get bonus points!

Talk to Your Dentist in Florida

If you’re concerned about your dietary habits and how they may be affecting your oral health, reach out to schedule a visit. We’re always happy to discuss ways to improve your oral health; in fact, it’s one of our favorite things to talk about! 

In addition to making smart and nutritious choices about what you eat, we also hope you’ll make the smart choice to visit our dental office in Florida soon. Sticking to a twice-yearly schedule for check-ups and cleanings helps prevent issues from developing and catching any issues that do develop early when they are easily treated.

If it’s been a bit since your last visit to a dentist, that’s okay. We know people fall behind in dental check-ups for a lot of reasons, and we don’t judge. Tell us what you need to have a great appointment—we are excited to help you get back on track to good dental health.

Give us a call now so we can find a time that’s right for you.