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Every day, your body renews itself, building new muscle, bone, skin and blood. The foods that you eat provide these building blocks for new tissues. If your diet is low in the nutrients your body needs, your mouth may have more difficulty resisting infection. The foods that you eat come in contact with germs and bacteria that live in your mouth. If you do not brush or floss properly, plaque can accumulate on your teeth, attacking enamel and eventually causing decay. Establishing good nutritional habits in kids and teenagers is extremely beneficial for building proper eating patterns and food choices throughout their lives. Your Child's Nutrition and Teeth If you allow your children to eat excessive amounts of junk food - including potato chips, cookies, crackers, soda, fruit roll-ups and granola bars - it only places them at risk for serious oral health problems. Carbonation that is found in soda, for example, can erode tooth enamel, causing cavities. Establishing good eating habits that begin in early childhood can go a long way to ensuring a lifetime of good oral health. Children should eat foods rich in calcium and other essential minerals. They should also eat a well-balanced, health diet of the essential food groups: vegetables, fruits, dairy products, poultry and meat. Fluoride supplements may also be helpful if you live in a community without fluoridated water. The Importance of Eating Right Your mouth can say a lot about what you are eating and your dentist may be the first person to notice any potential nutritional imbalances. Nutritional deficiencies result when there is an imbalance between what the body needs and what it is getting. These imbalances can be reflected in the oral cavity, where soft tissue renews quickly - often in as little as three to seven days. You are able to improve your oral health and reduce the risk of periodontal disease by eating a well-balanced diet based on the food pyramid. The food pyramid recommends eating a variety of foods from the five major food groups - grains, fruits, vegetables, milk and meats. With a proper diet, you may be able to prevent tooth decay and periodontal (gum) disease. Decay results when the teeth and other hard tissues of the mouth are destroyed by acid products from oral bacteria. Eat a well-balanced diet that contains moderation and variety. Always keep your mouth moist by drinking a lot 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. Additionally, foods that stick to your teeth can promote tooth decay, so when you snack avoid soft, sweet, sticky foods such as cake, candy and dried fruits. Choose dentally healthy foods, instead, such as nuts, raw vegetables, plain yogurt, cheese and sugarless gum or candy. Always ask your dentist in Park City, UT if you are not sure how your nutrition is affecting your oral health. Your dentist will be able to help you develop a proper nutrition diet, as well as spotting any signs of tooth decay or gum disease.
Sean Hartmen writes for leading Park City family dentist, Drs. Matthew Griffeth and Jeffrey Gordon at Mountain High Dental Associates. Mountain High Dental Associates specialize in areas such as wisdom teeth third molars extraction, and CEREC in Park City.
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