Friday, January 30, 2015

"Are Sugar-Free Foods Good For Your Teeth? Not So Fast…"



The Best Foods for Healthy Teeth


Cleaning your teeth is essential for healthy teeth, but did you know that the kind of foods you eat can also help — or hinder — your dental health? Eating foods that are good for your teeth and being cautious about those that aren’t is key to having a healthy smile.

Foods for healthy teeth

How you eat is also important. In a study from King's College London Dental Institute, researchers looked at more than 1,000 men and women between the ages of 18 and 30 for links between diet and tooth erosion. They found that eating high-acid foods (such as fruits and their juices) throughout the day can harm a person’s teeth if no effort is made to counteract the effects.

Foods That Are Good for Your Teeth

Enamel is a tooth’s first defense against decay. If the enamel on your teeth is eroded or damaged, you’re at higher risk for tooth sensitivity and cavities. You can help strengthen your tooth enamel by eating foods high in calcium. Also, adding foods rich in vitamin D to your diet will allow you to better absorb the calcium that healthy teeth need.

The best choices for healthy teeth are foods with:

    Calcium. Low-fat or fat-free dairy products such as milk, cheese, and plain yogurt are calcium staples that don’t add unhealthy saturated fat to your diet. Hard cheese in particular also helps neutralize the acids found in foods that threaten tooth enamel. Other good sources of calcium are green leafy vegetables like kale, bok choy, and even Brussels sprouts, which deliver a healthy boost of vitamin C, too.
    Vitamin D. Egg yolks, mushrooms, and most fish are excellent sources of the vitamin D you need to absorb calcium, which builds and maintains healthy teeth.
    Vitamin C. Red peppers and sweet potatoes can provide the vitamin C necessary for healthy gums, which help keep your teeth firmly in place. Citrus fruits like oranges are also high in vitamin C, but you have to be careful of their acidity.
    A healthy crunch. The crisp texture of crunchy fruits and vegetables can help wipe away plaque-causing bacteria on your teeth. They can also increase the production of saliva, which helps neutralize bacteria in your mouth. Apples, pears, celery, and carrots are all good choices. However, even a healthy food like an apple can expose teeth to damaging acid when eaten slowly. To reduce the impact of acid, brush your teeth before eating and drink water or rinse immediately after.


Bad Foods for Your Teeth

After you eat, plaque — the sticky film of bacteria that covers your teeth — release acids that break down the enamel on your teeth. Foods that are high in acid can cause your tooth enamel to erode the most, so these foods should be eaten in moderation to minimize damage to your teeth.

Foods that aren’t good for your teeth include:

    Hard or sticky candy. When you suck on hard candies, the candy is left in your mouth for a long time, which means extended exposure to sugar and damaging acid. Sticky candies are also a problem because the sugar sticks to your teeth.
    Carbohydrates. Foods such as white breads, pastas, and potato chips are processed as sugar when digested. And food particles from these carbs tend to linger by sticking in the grooves of teeth, creating a breeding ground for acid.
    Soda and fruit juices. Be especially cautious of sipping them over a lengthy period of time, which promotes prolonged exposure to sugar and acid.
    Too much citrus. Oranges, kiwis, lemons, and grapefruit are great sources of vitamin C for healthy gums, but they’re also high in enamel-damaging acid. Enjoy these foods in moderation to minimize their impact on your teeth.
    Hard foods. Peanut brittle, hard pretzels, and ice may offer a satisfying crunch, but they also carry the risk of damage to your teeth. Munching on hard food creates extra pressure and friction that can chip or crack teeth.
    Foods that leave stains. Coffee, tea, and red wine are notorious stain-makers. While tooth stains aren’t harmful, they can become difficult to remove if these foods are consumed in excess. Brushing too hard or using harsh products to remove these stains can damage your teeth and gums.


The Good News on Food and Healthy Teeth

It can be hard to give up a food that you crave, but you don’t have to stop eating sugary and acidic foods altogether. Domenick T. Zero, DDS, director of the Oral Health Research Institute, and professor and chairman of the department of Preventive and Community Dentistry at Indiana University School of Dentistry, explains that any food can be decay-causing if you don’t routinely practice good oral hygiene.

If you crave something that contains sugar — including fruit — here’s what you can do:

    Enjoy it in moderation.
    Eat it with other kinds of foods to help neutralize the acid.
    Drink water to help wash away bacteria and any remaining food particles.


It’s also important to clean your teeth after eating. However, wait 30 minutes to an hour after you have an acidic food or beverage because the acid weakens your tooth enamel, making your teeth more susceptible to damage from brushing. Another option is to chew a piece of sugar-free gum for 20 minutes to reduce plaque buildup. Following these strategies will help keep your teeth healthy and smile-ready.

At Annapolis Dental Center we care about your health! If you have any questions about this or any other dental issues, or would like to make an appointment for a dental exam call 410-571-5014 or check us out at Annapolisdentalcenter.com.

Article retrieved from: http://www.everydayhealth.com/health-report/dental-health-guide/best-foods-for-healthy-teeth.aspx