Your teeth must last a lifetime, and you should do everything you can to care for them--including monitoring what you eat. Your DeFuniak 
Springs and Santa Rosa Beach, FL, dentists, Dr. Michael O'Donnell and Dr. Chris Farrugia, encourage you to consider how your diet benefits your teeth and gums. What you eat and drink should not be a list of don'ts, but instead a lifestyle that strengthens and beautifies your oral health. So here are some tooth-friendly tips from the professional team at Great Florida Smiles & Orthodontics that will keep you smiling.
Four categories of do's
Before you eat or drink something, consider if it nourishes your smile. The American Dental Association says that a poor diet impacts your mouth before it affects anything else. So strive to include these 4 kinds of foods in your diet. Research shows that oral health improves with intake of:
- Calcium-rich foods
- Water
- Protein
- Fiber
All 4 categories help avoid dental decay, gum disease and yes, even oral cancer. Here are some suggestions on how to include them in your meals and snacks.
1. Consume cheese, yogurt and low-fat milk. All 3 foods are rich in bone- and enamel-building calcium, but they also help your mouth in other ways. Cheese and yogurt, says the American Academy of General Dentistry, contain probiotics, healthy micro-orgranisms which benefit your digestion and also keep bad oral bacteria at bay. Cheese buffers acidic foods such as wine and tomatoes, too.
2. Drink several glass of water. Water washes food residues off your teeth and gums, and it increases saliva production. What's the big deal about saliva? Saliva has excellent antibacterial properties and defends you against cavities and gum disease.
3. Increase lean proteins such as fish and poultry. Even almonds and other nuts provide significant amounts of this nutrient, keeping gums and other oral tissues strong and vibrant.
4. Include several servings of leafy green vegetables and fibrous fruits daily. They literally scrape teeth and gums clean, exercise the jaw bone and are a good source of vitamin C. When choosing breads, crackers and cereals, look for high fiber content as well.
Two don'ts
While your DeFuniak Springs and Santa Rosa Beach dentist wants you to consume nutritious foods, your oral health also benefits from avoiding 2 things--processed sugar and starch. That means limiting:
- Soda pop and sports drinks
- White bread
- Sugary cereals
- Candy
If you do consume them, brush and floss right away, or if you cannot, at least rinse your mouth well with water. Carbohydrates are the building blocks of toxic plaque and tartar which lead to tooth decay and gum disease.
Eat well and come see us
Your friends at Great Florida Smiles & Orthodontics advise six-month exams and cleanings for patients of all ages. Is it time for your routine visit? Call for your appointment. You can ask your DeFuniak Springs and Santa Rosa Beach, FL, dentist more about the benefits of a healthy diet.