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Choosing the right foods for your diet is vital in maintaining healthy teeth and good oral hygiene. By establishing proper nutritional habits in kids and teenagers, you can instill good eating patterns throughout their lives. With proper nutrition, you may be able to prevent two of the most common diseases - tooth decay and periodontal (gum) disease. Tooth decay results when your teeth and other hard tissues of the mouth are destroyed by acid products from oral bacteria. Certain foods and combinations of food are linked to higher levels of cavity - causing bacteria. Plan Meals and Snacks Properly When planning meals, be sure to choose a well-balanced food assortment that provides a good balance of moderation and variety. Develop eating habits that follow the recommendations of reputable health organizations and choose foods from the five major food groups: fruits, vegetables, breads and cereals, milk and dairy products and meat, chicken, fish or beans. Additionally, avoid fad diets that limit or eliminate entire food groups, which usually result in vitamin or mineral deficiencies. Make sure to always keep your mouth moist by drinking lots of water because saliva protects both hard and soft oral tissues. If you have a dry mouth, supplement your diet with sugarless candy or gum to stimulate saliva. Foods that stick to your teeth promote tooth decay, so avoid soft, sticky foods such as cakes, candy and dried fruits. Instead, choose foods that are healthy for your teeth such as nuts, raw vegetables, plain yogurt, cheese and sugarless gum or candy. Nutrition and Your Child's Oral Health Good eating habits that begin early in childhood can go a long way to ensuring a lifetime of good oral health. Good nutrition is essential for good dental health in children. Proper eating habits and food preferences are established early in childhood, making good nutrition vital in younger years. If your child suffers from poor nutrition, it can eventually lead to poor health, obesity, tooth decay, and periodontal disease. Most children crave sugary and other junk food that they see in TV commercials or other children eating. For this reason, parents should try to control what their children eat as much as possible. Dietary habits also contribute to the development of dental caries in children because foot that remains on the teeth provides a breeding ground for bacteria to thrive in dental plaque. If children do not eat a proper, balanced diet, their teeth may not properly develop. In order for them to develop strong, decay-resistant teeth, children need a well-balanced diet with emphasis on calcium, phosphorus and proper levels of fluoride. The Importance of Vitamin D Vitamin D is one of the many essential nutrients that our bodies need in order to function properly. Recent studies indicate that 2000 IU daily of vitamin D is an optimum amount, however others believe that up to 10,000 IU would be even better. Vitamin D is essential in maintaining healthy bone structure by balancing calcium levels in both bone and blood. Insufficient levels of vitamin D can lead to low bone density and development of osteoporosis. By combining proper amounts of calcium and vitamin D you can potentially prevent periodontal disease and maintain proper oral health. Always ask your dentist in Mississauga if you are not sure of how your nutrition may affect your oral health. Your dentist will be able to help guide you and your family on a path of good nutrition and optimal oral health.
Creditview Dental is operated by Drs. Brian Kaplansky and Gary Zlot, Mississauga, Ontario dentist. Together they provide family and cosmetic dentistry for the entire family, offering services including veneers, dental implants, root canal therapy and teeth whitening in Mississauga.
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