The role of nutrition oral health

Effects of nutrition on oral health

Diet and nutrition are the most critical factors affecting the growth and strength of teeth and bones. Studies and tests conducted on different food items and their effects on teeth have shown that consuming some foods increases the possibility of tooth decay.

Therefore, in addition to lack of hygiene, nutrition’s impact on oral and dental health can also cause various diseases, such as periodontal or other oral and dental diseases.

In general, foods cause tooth decay under the influence of the following factors:

Consistency and strength of food: Foods such as chocolate have high adhesive strength and are more likely to cause tooth decay.

Appearance of food: Liquid food causes tooth decay less than solid food in terms of adhesion strength and duration of contact with teeth.

Frequency of food consumption: The more you consume foods harmful to your teeth, such as sugary foods, the more likely you are to have tooth decay.

What foods are harmful to children’s teeth?

A high-carbohydrate, high-starch, and high-sugar diet can cause tooth decay in children. The child should also brush his teeth quickly after consuming sticky chewable foods such as pastilles, caramels, raisins, dried fruits, granola bars, cookies, and sweet juices and avoid such foods.

When sticky foods stick to the surface of the teeth, saliva cannot remove them from the surface due to the excessive stickiness of these substances. As a result, bacteria start to work and destroy the teeth.

The length of time that these foods remain on the teeth is the determining factor in the rate of tooth decay. In other words, if you brush your children’s teeth after consuming these foods and clean them well, the risk of tooth decay will be much less.

The best thing is to teach our children to choose healthy food and understand the impact of nutrition on oral health from a young age.

Tooth decay can start at a young age. At Beach Cities Dentistry in Manhattan Beach, CA, we offer specialized preventive and treatment services for children, ensuring their smiles stay solid and healthy.”

Harmful foods for children’s teeth

The child’s diet should be adjusted to contain essential vitamins for bone growth. If children receive enough vitamins and nutrients for bone growth, the development of their teeth will also be favorable. Regardless of children’s teeth, maintaining them is also very important.

Preventing tooth decay from the effects of nutrition on oral and dental health

• Minimizing the consumption of sugar and sweet substances in your diet list.
• Be sure to brush your teeth after consuming foods that are harmful to your teeth, and if you do not have access to a toothbrush, rinse your teeth with water.
• If you consume sweets, try to have them with the main meal, not as a snack.
• Avoiding consumption of tough foods and fruits.
• Use more foods, vegetables, and fruits for the mouth and teeth.

Functional foods for strengthening and health of teeth and gums

You should eat foods that strengthen your teeth to have healthy and strong teeth. Some essential foods for dental health are:

Foods rich in calcium and phosphorus

If enough minerals reach the teeth, the tooth enamel will be strengthened. To have teeth that are Strong and healthy, it is of great importance to consume the elements that makeup tooth enamel, namely calcium, and phosphorus.

Almonds: Almonds are rich in protein and have very little sugar. Their high calcium content strengthens teeth.

Meat: This food contains much phosphorus, which helps to make teeth stronger.

Fish: This high-phosphorus food item plays a vital role in the health and strength of tooth enamel.

Crispy foods with plenty of water

Chewing crunchy foods that contain much water can produce more saliva, destroy bacteria, and prevent tooth cavities. Crunchy foods containing water can also clean dental surfaces due to their abrasive properties.

Celery: Celery is a crunchy vegetable with lots of fiber. Much saliva is needed to chew celery, so the increase in oral saliva destroys many oral bacteria.

Carrots and apples: Eating carrots and apples can temporarily clean the teeth between eating and brushing. Carrots also strengthen tooth enamel.

Cucumber: Cucumbers can help clean teeth between meals like carrots and apples.

Foods rich in vitamin D

Vitamin D is essential for teeth health because it helps them absorb calcium better.

Tuna fish: This food has vitamin D and provides the necessary minerals for the teeth.

Foods beneficial for oral and dental health

Foods rich in vitamin C

Vitamin C dramatically affects gum strengthening by reducing inflammation and strengthening blood vessels. It can also prevent periodontal disease by producing collagen. If there is insufficient vitamin C, the gums will become more sensitive, and the possibility of periodontal disease will increase.

Foods rich in antioxidants

Antioxidants fight bacteria that cause inflammation and periodontal disease. As a result, they protect the gums and other tissues.

Broccoli: Broccoli is a rich source of vitamin C, calcium, and iron, which effectively maintain gum health and strengthen tooth enamel.

Orange: This fruit, with a lot of vitamin C, can strengthen the gums.

Foods containing probiotic bacteria helpful for the mouth and teeth

Beneficial probiotic bacteria can reduce gum inflammation.

Yogurt: Yogurt, with its high amount of calcium, helps to strengthen gums and teeth.

Foods rich in anthocyanins, arginine, and polyphenols

Anthocyanin and arginine can prevent the formation of plaque on the teeth and cause the chance of cavities. Also, polyphenols can prevent gum diseases and bad breath by preventing the growth of bacteria that cause dental plaque.

Some other useful foods

Water: This valuable drink can keep the level of saliva in the mouth high and wash the remaining food between the teeth. Water is the most essential drink to help maintain oral health.

Tea: Tea is rich in antioxidants and polyphenols, which can help maintain teeth health by preventing the formation of dental plaques.

Spinach: This leafy vegetable strengthens the gums and teeth by producing more saliva.

Shiitake mushrooms: These mushrooms can prevent the formation of dental plaque due to a substance called letinan.

Pear: Pear can play an essential role in oral and dental health by neutralizing the acid in the mouth.

Onion: With its germicidal properties, onion destroys oral bacteria.

Improper diet for teeth

Some foods have harmful effects on oral and dental health. Of course, their toxic effects can be eliminated by observing oral and dental hygiene and rinsing the mouth with water after consuming these foods. Some of these foods include:

Harmful foods for oral health

Sugar

Too much sugar in the diet can increase the possibility of tooth decay by absorbing harmful bacteria in the mouth and reducing pH. Consuming sugar can cause streptococcus bacteria in the mouth, creating a colorless and sticky layer on the teeth. Suppose this plaque, created by maintaining oral and dental hygiene, is not destroyed. In that case, it will destroy tooth enamel by producing acid.

Ice

Note that chewing ice has harmful effects on teeth. Ice can cause teeth to crack and break.

Energy drinks

Because these drinks are acidic and contain much sugar, they can increase the possibility of tooth decay by remaining on the teeth.

Pastille

Pastilles and all similar foods easily stick to the teeth and therefore expose the teeth to decay.

Popcorn

Popcorn easily gets stuck between the teeth and increases the possibility of damage to tooth enamel.

Peppermint tablets

Peppermints make your mouth smell good, but be aware that they expose your teeth to sugar. For this reason, if it remains on the tooth, the possibility of tooth decay increases.

Coffee

This lovely drink can affect the color of teeth over time.

Dried fruits

Although dried fruits are a very healthy and helpful snack, they quickly get stuck between the teeth and expose the teeth to much sugar.

Conclusion

Nutrition is an influential factor in tooth decay in low-income groups

The effects of nutrition on low-income groups’ oral and dental health are visible. Limited economic income or lack of access to food can hurt the consumption of fruits and vegetables, lean meat, whole grains, and dairy products.

Sharp’s insufficient consumption of nutrient-rich foods, lack of health literacy, and limited access to oral and dental health care can put the low-income sections of society at risk of tooth decay and other oral diseases.

Maintaining oral health involves more than diet—it also requires routine visits to a dental professional. Visit Beach Cities Dentistry in Manhattan Beach for personalized, expert care and advice tailored to your family’s dental needs.