Do you want the brightest, healthiest smile possible? How your mouth looks, feels and functions depends a lot on what you eat and drink. Your dentists in Fargo at Cornerstone Dental wants all her patients to practice good nutritional habits. Your diet encourages strong oral health and makes your dentists’s job much easier! Read about what Dr. Stacy Goodwill and Dr. Courtney Gieseke recommend you and your family eat for your best possible smiles.
Yes, Sugar is a Problem
For decades, we’ve heard that sugar and other complex carbohydrates cause dental decay. The problem lies in the bacteria that live in our mouths. They absolutely love the residues left on teeth after starchy meals and snacks.
These residues form sticky plaque and eventually, hard tartar; both promote bacterial growth. These bacteria secrete acids that eat away at tooth enamel and cause gum disease, one of the leading reasons for tooth loss in the United States.
The World Health Organization (WHO) states that Americans consume a lot of sugar. However, children and adults should limit their daily intake to five to 10 percent of their total calories. That equals only about three teaspoons daily.
Replace Sugar with Better Choices
With our diets filled with so many processed foods and sugars, what should we eat for good dental health? Your family dentists in Fargo has several suggestions that follow this principle: gradually replace poor choices with good ones.
- Drink plenty of water every day. Fitness and nutrition experts recommend several glasses of water daily to increase your metabolism, promote good digestion and make you feel fuller longer. From a dental standpoint, Dr. Goodwill and Dr. Gieseke say water cleanses tooth surfaces and gums and promotes saliva production, the body’s own tooth cleanser.
- Eat high fiber fruits and vegetables. They literally scrape teeth and gums clean and make you chew more, increasing beneficial saliva in your mouth. Think of celery, peanuts, apples, pears and salads. Hard cheeses, such as cheddar, reduce food acidity and dental stains. For your children, key in on choices they really like and increase your offerings of those favorites throughout the week, including school lunches.
- Low-fat meats provide important proteins for vibrant gum tissue. Low-fat dairy products supply calcium for strong jaw bones and tooth enamel. Chicken, turkey, skim milk, eggs, and yogurt are tasty and nutritious choices. For children, take advantage of the colorful and innovative packaging many milk and yogurt products come in today.
- Establish good eating habits early on in life. Model good nutrition for your children and grandchildren. The earlier they eat well, the healthier their young teeth and gums will be. Remember, if you talk good nutrition and set the example for it, the youngsters will naturally follow.
What Should You Eat and Drink?
Your dentistss in Fargo enjoy patient teaching and can recommend ways for you and your family to love what you eat and to have exceptional smiles. Contact Cornerstone Dental today for your personal consultation.