Avoiding smoking, alcohol, and sugar will go a long way in keeping your pearly whites in wonderful shape.
SAN ANTONIO — What you put in your mouth when it comes to eating and drinking plays an important role in oral health. What we eat and drink can not only strengthen our teeth and gums and prevent cavities, it can even reduce the risk of chronic diseases like heart disease and diabetes.
Bacteria in our mouths feed on things like sugars and starches, which produce acids that can erode teeth. That’s why limiting processed foods and sugar drinks is essential, with a win-win for your mouth, and your long term health too. Laura Hernandez the program coordinator for San Antonio Metro Health’s Oral Health Program told us, “What we eat and drink has a direct impact on our oral health. A balanced diet rich in vitamins and minerals and fiber helps maintain a healthy mouth and a healthy body.”
For the healthiest smile you can muster keep all of these in mind. We’ll start with fruits and veggies. Hernandez added, “So fruits and vegetables like apples and carrots and berries and leafy greens. They provide fiber and vitamins and minerals that support oral health.”
Next up, drink plenty of water to hydrate and help those pearly whites. “Especially tap water that contains fluoride, helps strengthen tooth enamel, and it helps to prevent tooth decay. And choosing water instead of a sugary beverage is one of the simplest ways we can protect our smiles,” said Hernandez.
Make sure to limit your consumption of sugary foods and drinks. Hernandez said, “Foods and drinks high in added sugars are a leading cause of tooth decay, limiting sugar and choosing healthier snacks and beverages can help keep teeth strong and healthy.”
Smoking is an absolute no no that can cause yellowing of the teeth, but also long term problems like gum disease, increasing the risk of tooth decay, and raising the chance of contracting oral cancer.
Alcohol should be avoided as well, mainly because of the sugar. “It probably affects more your teeth than anything because of the acidity and alcohol or the sugary drinks that they can be made of,” said Hernandez.