Influences Your Diet Has on Your Oral Health

Portrait of young woman tasting a fresh strawberryBelieve it or not, your smile is affected by much more than just the rate at which you brush your teeth. Indeed, there are actually so many factors out there that can negatively influence your oral health that you cannot count them on two hands. The unfortunate truth of the matter is, however, that there are significantly fewer natural defenses that can help. As such, it is important to take every step you can to ensure your smile is protected. In today’s blog, your  Conroe, TX dentist discusses the influence your diet has on your oral health and structures, as well as what you can do to provide necessary protection.

Be Wary of Sugar Consumption

From a young age, you may have been warned that sugar will rot your teeth. Though at the time it may have seemed like nothing more than a ploy by adults to take away your sweet treats, in all actuality, there is great truth to this statement.

You see, oral bacteria are present in every smile and take care to nestle into the hard-to-clean areas of the mouth. From here, they will feed off of trapped food particles to survive. When they feed off of sugars, however, it causes them to produce a destructive acid that aids in the tooth decay process. In other words, sugar really does rot your teeth!

In order to avoid this phenomenon, your dentist typically recommends to cut back on sweets and make sure you are practicing great preventive habits at home. This includes brushing after meals to minimize chances of bacterial infection, as well as flossing to reduce the presence of food particles that feed bacteria. To learn more about this process, contact our team today.

Enamel Erosion Through High Acidity

Another influence your diet has on your smile involves the presence of high levels of acidity. You see, your only natural defense against oral health threats consists of the protective layer of dental enamel that surrounds your teeth. Foods containing high levels of acidity such as berries and fruits can actually contribute to enamel erosion if consumed regularly enough. To combat this, we recommend brushing shortly after consuming such products so that the fluoride in your toothpaste can help mend weakened enamel. Contact our team to learn more.

Always Drink Plenty of Water

Finally, and most importantly, you must drink plenty of water on a regular basis. Though your checkups and at-home preventive practices contribute greatly to a healthy smile, it is important to see that water is not only essential for the body, but for your teeth as well.

Learn More Today

To learn more about the ways your diet influences your oral health, contact The Dental Centre of Conroe in Conroe, TX by calling 936-441-4600 to schedule your next appointment with our team today.