Learning to make smarter eating decisions is a crucial part of preserving anyone’s oral health, but some diet trends can have unintended consequences. If your goal is to slash carbs, eat cleaner, or source your food more ethically, it’s still important to keep your oral health in mind when considering any diet plan. Here’s a brief guide to a few popular dieting trends and the risks that they can present to your oral health.
There’s Lots of Acid in a Juice Cleanse
Juice cleanses were a fad in Hollywood a few years ago. Several celebrities were touting the benefits of sticking to a mostly-liquid diet of fruit and vegetable juice to help their bodies flush away toxins and unhealthy accumulations. Unfortunately, the juice of fruits such as lemons, limes, apples, pineapples, and oranges is quite acidic and will weaken your enamel on contact. It’s best to drink juice in moderation alongside a glass of water to help flush the sticky, sugary liquid away from your teeth.
Vegetarians and Vegans Must Get Protein
The gums depend on a steady supply of protein to ensure that they have the building blocks they need to maintain their structure, fight infections, and keep supporting the teeth. While many people choose not to eat meat for a wide variety of reasons, it’s still important for vegetarians and vegans to make sure that they consume enough protein to keep their bodies healthy. A few excellent meat-free sources of protein include eggs, milk, nuts, soy, beans, and tofu.
The Keto Diet Can Put a Strange Taste on Your Breath
The keto diet involves eliminating sugar from your diet so that your body must burn fat for energy, which can lead to significant weight loss. While dentists are generally thrilled at the thought of someone giving up sugar, the process of burning fat will cause your body to release chemicals called ketones that smell like acetone or nail-polish remover.
When you first enter ketosis (the metabolic state in which your body burns primarily fat), you may notice that your breath starts to taste funny due to the ketones being released. While this problem should go away as you get used to ketosis or when you consume sugar again, you can mitigate it until then by brushing and flossing regularly and using antibacterial mouthwash.
Smart eating decisions are good for your oral as well as your overall health. Consulting with your dentist can help you find out the best options for keeping your teeth in excellent shape.
About the Author
Dr. Steven Kendrick earned his dental degree at the Oklahoma University College of Dentistry and has furthered his training with the Misch International Implant Institute. He is proud to serve as a member of the American Dental Association, the Oklahoma Dental Society, and the Academy of General Dentistry. His office in Midwest City offers general, restorative, cosmetic, and emergency dentistry. To learn more about keeping your teeth healthy, contact his office online or dial (405) 732-0431.