Healthy Food Prevents Dental Problems

Dr. Maryam Brazdo wants to help you take every step necessary to avoid tooth problems, such as tooth decay. The National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research reported that, “adults 20 to 64 have an average of 3.28 decayed or missing permanent teeth and 13.65 decayed and missing permanent surfaces.” There are many ways to prevent tooth decay such as a sound oral hygiene regimen, but also the food choices you make each day. Although it’s definitely hard to pass up cookies and treats, especially with the holidays looming ahead, these sugary foods can harm your teeth. So try to choose foods that contain essential nutrients to keep your teeth healthy and strong.

“Calcium is a prime ingredient for preventing tooth decay, especially for growing children. Dairy is a great source, with choices such as milk, yogurt and cheese. Calcium doesn’t hide in the fat, so skim milk and low-fat yogurt will give you just as much calcium,” the experts at Oral-B explained.

Fruit, fiber, and veggies are another great food decision to prevent tooth decay. Oral-B also suggests, “eating high-fiber foods keeps saliva flowing, which helps create mineral defenses against tooth decay. Good sources of fiber are dried fruits such as dates, raisins and figs, and fresh fruits, like bananas, apples and oranges. Other options include veggies, such as beans, Brussels sprouts and peas, along with peanuts, almonds and bran.”

However, when you do get that hankering for sugar that you just can’t seem to shake steer clear of cookies and candy. The sugar in these sweets will partner with plaque to weaken enamel, leaving you vulnerable to tooth decay. When looking to follow a healthy diet that’s good for your teeth and the rest of your body, try sticking to the food pyramid. The pyramid is structured to give you a healthy serving of all the necessary food groups you need throughout the day.

We want to encourage you to make healthy food decisions in order to keep up good oral hygiene so if you ever have any questions, give our office a call!