Tooth Decay And Gum Disease Are Directly Linked To Your Diet

Tooth decay and tooth loss don't occur overnight. They are the result of years of neglect and abuse by their owner. If you can't control yourself from eating foods that promote plaque buildup, you can and should expect to have dental problems throughout your life. Have you been to the dentist lately for a checkup? Are you eating a diet that supports optimum oral health?

Inside your mouth is good and bad bacteria. That bacterium thrives on sugar and carbohydrates; the more you eat of foods that are rich in those two items, the more the bacteria get to eat. A byproduct of the bacteria eating the sugar is an acidic substance that attacks your tooth enamel and your gum. That acidic byproduct is called plaque and it is the number one enemy of oral health - if left unchecked for periods of time, it will create tooth decay and gum disease.

Foods that assist in optimal oral health are foods that are low in sugars and carbohydrates. Obviously, the more you eat of those types of foods, the more likely you'll have fewer dental problems.

When people think of sugar and carbohydrates, they think of the obvious food choices that are bad for you, such as candy bars, donuts, and pastries. Truth is, those are just the obvious sugar-filled foods. There are more common, everyday foods that should also be eaten in moderation. Some of those foods are milk, breads, and grain products such as cereals. If you were a Hindu holy man, you could simply avoid all foods with high sugar and high carbohydrate content. But since we're all human, it's best to adopt a diet of simple moderation. You can eat the types of foods you want but always remember to brush your teeth after every meal.

Dentists have long preached that snacking in-between meals is bad for your oral health. The average person assumes that refers to eating sugar-filled treats such as donuts and candy bars. While those types of foods are certainly bad for your teeth, snacking in-between meals is bad for you because your mouth will only produce a minimal amount of saliva when you eat small amounts of food. Saliva is one of your natural defenses against plaque buildup.

When you eat a large meal (such as dinner or breakfast that has a variety of food types) your mouth will create a significant amount of saliva to help start the digestion process. Basically, when you eat, you want your body to produce as much saliva as possible, and that requires larger meals.

Do you know what the two most common diseases are and where they are located on the human body? This might shock you: they are located in your mouth! Tooth decay and gum disease are the most common diseases among humans. A very high percentage of the population has gum disease and doesn't even realize it because the disease doesn't cause any pain (at least in its early stages). Both diseases are the direct result of a poor diet and a poor dental care routine. To avoid these two diseases, follow a healthy diet that is low in sugar and carbohydrates, and make sure you brush your teeth after every meal.

Outside of your dental health, a poor diet will diminish your immune system and weaken it. It's been proven that tooth decay and a weakened immune system are linked together; you usually have one if you have the other. In the interest of both your long term oral health and your general health, you should follow a healthy diet.

Water consumption is another important aspect of optimum oral health. If you keep your body properly hydrated, your mouth will produce adequate levels of saliva present at all times. A dehydrated body has low levels of saliva, and that will promote plaque production.

Before you make changes to your diet or your dental care routine, it's recommend that you seek the professional guidance of a licensed dentist in your area. Good luck!