Ft Lauderdale Family, Cosmetic, and Sedation Dentistry Blog | Dr. Thomas O'Neil
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
Oral Health and your diet
Just as you look to the food pyramid for your body's nourishment, the pyramid provides benefits for your overall oral health as well. As most people desire a healthy glow of white teeth, they need to be just as concerned about the internal structure of their teeth, too. An easy way to monitor such oral health is to regulate and alter your diet.
Eating foods from each of the five food groups is an important tip as it does not restrict you diet to a specific type of food that may contain too much sugars and acids. The best foods from the pyramids are fruits, vegetables, bread, dairy, fish, chicken, beans, and meat( American Dental Association). Snacking between meals should be kept at a minimum because of the amounts of the digestive acids that are released in your mouth after eating. According to the American Dental Association when eating a full meal, your saliva production increases allowing your mouth to be rinsed more thoroughly of these digestive acids. Good snack ideas that promote dental health consist mainly of vegetables and fruits or foods low in cholesterol, fat, and sodium. Drinking water after snaking is also a great plus!
Vegetarians should also be aware that by consuming meats and poultries their oral health may become endangered. If not substituted with other food sources, a vegetarian diet may lack calcium, vitamin D (important in bone formation and immune system health), proteins and other necessary nutrients. Such nutrients are even more important for young vegetarians ( children and teenagers) as they are still growing. One on a vegetarian diet can eat fruits, vegetables, and grains to made up for missing nutrients. Along with altering your diet, be sure to of course brush and floss at least two times a day!
Dr. O'Neil practices these guide lines as well for a good oral health.
By Tammy and Isabel
Eating foods from each of the five food groups is an important tip as it does not restrict you diet to a specific type of food that may contain too much sugars and acids. The best foods from the pyramids are fruits, vegetables, bread, dairy, fish, chicken, beans, and meat( American Dental Association). Snacking between meals should be kept at a minimum because of the amounts of the digestive acids that are released in your mouth after eating. According to the American Dental Association when eating a full meal, your saliva production increases allowing your mouth to be rinsed more thoroughly of these digestive acids. Good snack ideas that promote dental health consist mainly of vegetables and fruits or foods low in cholesterol, fat, and sodium. Drinking water after snaking is also a great plus!
Vegetarians should also be aware that by consuming meats and poultries their oral health may become endangered. If not substituted with other food sources, a vegetarian diet may lack calcium, vitamin D (important in bone formation and immune system health), proteins and other necessary nutrients. Such nutrients are even more important for young vegetarians ( children and teenagers) as they are still growing. One on a vegetarian diet can eat fruits, vegetables, and grains to made up for missing nutrients. Along with altering your diet, be sure to of course brush and floss at least two times a day!
Dr. O'Neil practices these guide lines as well for a good oral health.
By Tammy and Isabel
posted by The office of Dr. Thomas O'Neil at 11:43 AM
7707 N. University Dr., Suite 201
Tamarac, FL 33321
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