Do You Struggle With Healthy Eating?

The fall is a time where it is easy to allow poor eating habits to overcome your good judgement, between the Halloween candy and Thanksgiving festivities, not to mention all of the deliciousness that is awaiting you in December. While it is important to be mindful of healthy eating to maintain proper physical and mental health, it is just as important for your oral health. Continue reading to find out how you can improve your eating habits during the holiday season to maintain proper oral health.

Eating a well-balanced diet is important so your body gets the proper nutrients you need. If your body is lacking proper nutrition, it is harder for the mouth to resist infection and can lead to gum disease and tooth decay. Eating foods with high sugar content, such as those we find around the holidays, creates plaque that sticks to teeth. Over time, that plaque turns into the bacteria that causes tooth decay, leading to cavities. Use this healthy foods list as a guide to improve your eating: 

Dairy Products 

• Products such as milk, cheese, and yogurt are high in calcium and protein. They help strengthen the enamel on your teeth and the probiotic bacteria helps promote healthy gums.

Apples and Carrots 

• These are full of fiber, which helps keep your teeth and gums clean. They also have a nice solid crunch, which helps to produce extra saliva, reducing the risk of cavities.

Protein-Rich Foods

• Meat and fish also help protect the tooth enamel.

Water

• This is a great mouth cleaner because it washes away bacteria when you are not able to brush your teeth after eating meals. Plaque cannot buildup in a hydrated, clean mouth.

As always along with any diet, proper brushing techniques twice a day and the use of dental floss daily is also recommended in maintaining proper oral health.

Holiday or not, we like to help our patients maintain good overall health along with their dental health. Reminders like these can help us all stay on track this holiday season and beyond, with choosing food and drinks that promote long-term health. Please contact our office located in Fort Lee, NJ with any concerns about your oral health. We look forward to hearing from you soon.