We don’t mean to be the bearers of bad news. We know that chocolate, chips and sweets are delicious. Really. Really. Delicious.
However, as experienced dentists, we know that diet is crucial for your oral health. We would be flat out fibbing if we said that your teeth can handle the sugar you crave.
Of course, there are other factors that can influence bad teeth too. Unfortunate genetics and a lack of proper oral cleaning can have major impacts on your teeth. However, the most overseen contributor to poor oral health is diet.
Think of it like this… Every part of your body is vulnerable to the things that make contact with it. Your arm can be used as an example of this. If your arm is hit by a basketball, you may get a bruise. If you wear a shirt with rough material, your arm may get scratches or a rash. If you cover your arm in blue paint, it may have a blue stain for some time after being washed.
Now, let’s relate this back to your mouth. Your teeth are constantly being rubbed, hit and coated in the food you place into your mouth. If you consistently consume goods with added colours, you can expect your teeth to turn that colour too. If you are eating hard and rough foods, your teeth can become ground down or scratched.
How can diet affect your oral health?
As explained, poor eating patterns and food choices can be highly influential on the health of your mouth. Poor nutrition does not often result in immediate destruction to the mouth, but over time it can influence a range of oral issues. Cue: sad face.
Especially in the oral health of youngsters, children dentists identify that unhealthy diets are causing noteworthy tooth deterioration. It is important to keep children’s oral health good in their younger years to enable a strong future.
More specifically, a bad diet can result in:
- Tooth decay.
When your teeth come into contact with too much sugar, the tooth enamel will break down. The same can occur when eating too many foods that are high in carbohydrates and starches. - Stained teeth.
When eating an unvaried diet, your teeth may be subject to too many foods of the same colours. If not cleaned properly, your teeth will eventually become stained. - Gum disease.
If you are lacking necessary vitamins and nutrients from your diet, your mouth tissues will become incapable of resisting infection. Typically, this will lead to gum disease and tooth loss.
Interestingly, when bacteria enters the mouth, the associated acid can continue to attack the mouth for more than twenty minutes. It is no wonder to trained dental professionals that non-nutritious foods can damage teeth and gums.
What do dentists consider to be a good diet?
The most popular dentists and qualified dental surgeons in Australia all agree that a good diet will have two things: variety and nutrition.
No, unfortunately variety does not mean having both the chocolate and vanilla ice cream. We mean variety of the good foods. Not that junk stuff.
A balanced diet will incorporate items from all food groups and will be limited of bad foods like sugar and additives. The best eating patterns will include many high-nutrient foods, such as fruit and vegetables.
If you are unsure about what a suitable diet constitutes of, you should speak to a friendly local dentist. As qualified medical professionals, they can recommend foods that are good for you and your teeth. Despite common beliefs and tales of awkward dentist lectures, there are many modern dentists who refrain from preaching to and embarrassing their patients.
Popular dentists in the Shire are known for their focus on client well being and care, rather than making patients uncomfortable.
What if you have already damaged your teeth?
By visiting your local dentist for regular dental check-ups, you will habitually become aware of any prevalent issues in your mouth. Ongoing dentist appointments through your childhood and adult years will ensure that problems are detected early and can be managed appropriately.
Failure to see a trusted dentist on a regular basis is likely to result in oral distresses. Thankfully, there are solutions to deal with tooth decay, stained teeth and gum diseases. In most cases, the relevant procedures to fix these common oral problems are non-intrusive and highly effective when conducted by a reliable dentist.
To put an end to your deprived oral health, the best dentists in Sydney will offer restorative dentistry and cosmetic dentistry as well as general check-ups and hygiene treatments.
If you have contracted gum disease, your dentist will be able to provide treatment in the forms of scaling and root planning, pocket reduction surgery and soft tissue grafts. To assist with tooth decay or tooth loss, dentists can give fillings for cavities or dentures.
In the case of discoloured and stained teeth, professional teeth whitening may be a suitable option to consider. Although some dentistry teeth whitening can be expensive, there are affordable routes available at trusted dentists in Southern Sydney. The Caringbah Dentists even provide flexible payment plan options to suit every individual’s unique financial circumstances.
To get in touch with some of Australia’s favourite dentists, contact the Caringbah Dentist team on (02) 9525 0595.