Three Fad Diets That Aren’t Tooth-Friendly

If you’re like many others, you may like to start the new year off with a fresh diet plan to shed a few pounds or just get into better shape. Dieting is not a bad thing as long as you do it the right way. It obviously has plenty of benefits for your body as a whole, but it’s also important to pay attention to how the foods you regularly consume are affecting your oral health. Keep reading to learn what your Marble Falls dentist has to share about three popular fad diets that can wreak havoc on your teeth.

How Do Fad Diets Affect Oral Health?

Dieting is often associated with jump-starting your mental and physical health, but people often don’t take oral health into consideration when choosing a plan. Here are three popular diets that people often adopt in order to get healthier that can be harmful to your teeth and gums:

Juice Cleanse

Juice cleanses are notoriously used as a detox method for the digestive system, but when it comes to oral health, they may not be the best option:

Why? When you extract juice from fruits or vegetables, you’re not consuming all of the additional nutrients and fiber that they have to offer your body.Over time, the juice from fruits can start to wear down your tooth enamel, as many are high in acid. Additionally, the sugar works against your teeth by promoting tooth decay on the already weakened surfaces.

What to Do: As opposed to juicing your fruits and veggies, include a healthy balance of each in your daily diet so that your entire body, including your teeth, is receiving the nourishment it needs.

Raw Food

A popular diet among celebrities is a raw food diet. While these are claimed to help you avoid chemicals and preservatives as well as maintain a thinner waistline, they can also be dangerous for oral health:

Why? Raw food diets often include a large number of fruits, seeds, and nuts. When eaten in moderation, these are great options. When consumed in excess, the naturally occurring sugar in fruit can lead to cavities and chomping down on hard nuts and seeds on a consistent basis can weaken your teeth and lead to cracking or chipping.

What to Do: It’s a good idea to have dental floss and some water on hand when you do enjoy these foods in order to remove leftover particles and sugar that can easily become lodged around or stuck in between your teeth.

Multiple Smaller Meals

Many dieticians claim that instead of eating three main meals a day, a great way to control weight is by eating a multitude of smaller snack-sized meals. While it may have benefits for your waistline, the more you eat, the more wear and tear your teeth undergo:

Why? Every time you eat, your teeth are more highly prone to damage for up to an hour, and most people don’t make a practice of brushing their teeth after every single thing they ingest. This means that the more often you eat, the more likely you are to have plaque build-up that can lead to tooth decay and gum disease.

What to Do: If you do choose to eat smaller and more frequent meals, make sure to take extra precautions to keep your teeth healthy, such as brushing and flossing after eating, and drinking extra water to keep your mouth rinsed out.

Go forth this year with a plan not just for a healthier body, but also a beautiful smile! Talk to your dentist about the diet options that can keep your oral health in check as well as your overall health.

About the Practice

Dr. Gregory R. Sopel understands the importance of overall health, but he is also passionate about providing his patients with the knowledge and tools they need to take care of their teeth. He has nearly forty years of experience in the field of oral healthcare, and hours of continuing education have given him the skills he needs to provide the highest quality of care. Start the year off with a strong smile by scheduling your next checkup and cleaning. Request a consultation online or call (830) 598-5474.