Nutrition and Dental Health

For the next few weeks we’ll be taking a look at how nutrition plays an important role in your dental health. While we all know about the negative effects of sugar on our teeth, and a balanced, nutritious diet is essential to healthy living. But did you know that eating patterns and food choices play an important role in preventing tooth decay and gum disease, too?

You may eat with your eyes first, but your mouth, teeth, and gums are more than just tools for eating. They’re essential for chewing and swallowing—the first steps in the digestion process. Your mouth is your body’s initial point of contact with the nutrients you consume. So what you put in your mouth impacts not only your general health but also that of your teeth and gums. In fact, if your nutrition is poor, the first signs often show up in your oral health.

Your individual nutrition and calorie needs depend on your age, gender, level of physical activity and other health factors, but according to MyPlate, a website from the Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion, an agency of U.S. Department of Agriculture, a balanced and healthy diet should include:

Fruits and vegetables
Combined, these should cover half your plate at meals.

Grains
At least half of the grains you eat should be whole grains, such as oatmeal, whole wheat bread and brown rice.

Dairy
Choose low-fat or fat-free dairy foods most often.

Protein
Make lean protein choices, such as lean beef, skinless poultry and fish. Vary your protein choices to also include eggs, beans, peas and legumes. Eat at least eight ounces of seafood a week.

In addition to diet, it’s also important to stay active for good health. Adults should get at least two and a half hours of moderate-intensity physical activity every week.

We will continue to look at various effects of snacking, dieting and harmful and beneficial foods that all affect your dental health.
If you have any questions, our knowledgable staff is ready to answer your questions and point you in the right direction. Send us a message or call us today at 281-602-3941.

information provided by mouthhealthy.org