How Diet Can Help Your Oral Health - Part 2

Finally, after months of isolation restaurants are opening, pubs are pouring and the last thing we have on our mind is worrying about our oral health. I mean, we’re pretty sure no one was eagerly asking for a dental clean and checkup once the restrictions were lifted.

Well, many people believe that the mouth is its own entity, but your mouth is actually connected to the entire body through the immune system. Here are some everyday tips to promote healthy teeth and a healthy body:

Water can wash away food particles and freshly formed harmful bacteria. Water also supports proper function of the saliva. When we become dehydrated, saliva becomes less effective against bacteria as it thickens, then this thick saliva can also lead to bad breath! Water can also help fill up your stomach, making you feel more full so preventing you from snacking as much.

Every time we snack the pH of our mouth drops due to the bacteria on our teeth. If our teeth are like this for too long they can dissolve, forming cavities. Frequent snacking prolongs the low pH, putting us at risk of decay. Sticky caramel is the worst, as it takes the longest time to remove by our saliva. Instead, having sweets with lunch or dinner shortens the amount of time that our teeth spend in a low pH environment, reducing the risk of cavities. If you find snacking is essential to your lifestyle, try some healthy alternatives that are low in calories and high in tooth-cleaning fibre such as raw crunchy vegetables, such as Carrots, Celery, Cucumbers.

Bacteria in the mouth cannot digest sweeteners, so sweeteners cannot cause decay. One of the best sweeteners is Xylitol, which not only prevents decay but also kills the bad bacteria at the same time. Aspartame (used in Equal) is the most popular, but can often leave an artificial taste.It also cannot be used in baking as they degrade under high heat, however there are plenty of alternatives that you can try to replace the sugar in your coffee or baking!

Not only does it freshen the breath, the action of chewing promotes saliva production. Saliva can rinse away the freshly formed bacteria and neutralises the acid that bacteria produced. We would recommend chew sugarless gum after acidic foods like lemon or carbonated soft drinks to help restore the pH in your mouth.

At the end of the day oral health is probably the last thing on your mind when everything returns to normal, however it is important to remember that it is a critical part of your overall health. These are a few tips that you can incorporate to your daily routine and if you would like to discuss further or want to know more we are here to help!