Friday, January 3, 2020

How Do Popular Diets Affect Dental Health?

It is officially 2020! The New Year can bring a sense of newness to everything and help motivate people to get a fresh start in many areas of their lives. One of the most popular areas is what people eat. Access Dental is the best dentist in the Springfield area, and we care about your health! There are so many popular diets these days, it can be difficult to choose the best one for you. Read on to learn about a few popular diets and cleanses you may have read about, and how they could affect your dental health. (Disclaimer: Before making a drastic change in your daily diet, it is important to always consult with your personal physician first.)


Liquid Cleanses


Some people like to start the new year off with a power punch to their health journey. Liquid and juice diets can be very effective for rapid weight loss, but their merits are often debated in the medical community. It can be difficult to get the nutrients you need from fluids alone, and the loss of fiber and roughage in your diet could cause stomach issues.

A liquid diet could also be harmful to your dental health. Crunchy health foods like carrots and apples can help reduce the buildup of plaque by literally pushing it off your teeth. Liquid diets can also be acidic and high in sugar because juices and smoothies tend to be what dieters grab for first.

Dairy-Free Diets


A few good examples of popular dairy-free diets are Paleo and Whole30. The Paleo diet encourages participants to eat meat, fish, eggs, vegetables, fruits, nuts, seeds, herbs, spices, healthy fats, and oils. People on this diet are also supposed to avoid processed foods, sugar, soft drinks, grains, dairy products, legumes, artificial sweeteners, vegetable oils, margarine, and trans fats. Whole 30 abides by three major rules: No added sugar, no alcohol, no grains, no legumes, and no dairy. Most of these items can be good to avoid, but not always.

Dairy is often considered beneficial for bones and teeth due to its calcium content. Until recently, all dairy was thought to have the same effect on teeth. The Academy of General Dentistry published a study that indicates cheese could have anti-cavity properties. It does this by reducing the level of acidity in your mouth and increasing saliva production (https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/06/130605130118.htm).


Low Carb Diets


One of the most popular diets in recent years has been the Low-Carb Diet. You may have heard of "Keto", which at its core is a low or no-carb diet. The idea of these diets is to optimize your body to burn fat by reducing or eliminating carbs. This diet could also reduce your folic acid and fiber intake if you are not careful to replace grains with a high volume of leafy greens and beans.

These diets can be detrimental to your oral health because of the elimination of fruits. Fruits are considered carbs on these diets because of their natural sugar content, so they are either not allowed or limited on almost all Low-Carb Diets. But fruits can be helpful to your oral health! Particularly fruits like apples, pears, and watermelon. These fruits have higher water content and cause you to salivate more when eating them. Saliva production is incredibly important to keep your mouth hydrated and free of bacteria. If your choice is between a piece of low-carb pie and an apple, the higher-carb apple may be a healthier choice for your teeth.


Your Local Healthcare Providers


It is very important to consult with your personal physician, and possibly a registered dietician, before making a drastic change in your daily diet. They can help determine what kind of diet would be best for you and your level of health. Maybe a low-cholesterol or anti-inflammatory diet is what you need. Regardless of whether or not you decide to start the year off with a new diet, Access Dental and Dentures is here for all your oral health needs. We are the best dentist in southern Missouri and we look forward to caring for you in 2020!

We want to be your dentist because your family deserves a great smile! 

1-877-DENTIST




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