This is especially true for your gums and teeth if you're the food you eat. You're not just feeding yourself if you drink or eat sweet or starchy foods. In addition, you're feeding the bacteria (bacteria), which can lead to gum disease and tooth decay within your mouth. Plaque is an incredibly thin undetectable, sticky film of bacteria and other substances. It covers the entire surface of your teeth. When starches or sugars within your mouth come into contact with plaque, acid develops.
These acids could harm your teeth for up to at least 20 minutes after eating. Repeated attacks may cause damage to the hard enamel that covers the teeth's surface. This causes tooth decay. The bacteria present in plaque cause an inflammation response. This leads to the destruction of your gums, bone, and other supporting structures of your teeth.
Some foods invite tooth decay. Other foods aid in fighting plaque buildup. Here are some food items you should look out for and avoid.
The good guys
A few suggested meals:
Fruits and vegetables that are high in fiber. Foods that contain fiber can aid in keeping your gums and teeth healthy, According to the American Dental Association (ADA). They also help to increase saliva flow. In addition to regular home dental hygiene, this is your most natural defense against tooth decay and gum illness. After about 20 minutes, after having consumed something with sweets and starches, saliva starts to lessen the effect of the acid and enzymes in your teeth. The saliva contains trace amounts of calcium as well as phosphate. It also helps restore minerals to the areas of teeth that are depleted from bacterial acid.
Milk, cheese, plain yogurt, and various dairy items. Cheese is another saliva-producing food. Its calcium and phosphates found in dairy products, such as cheese, milk, and other dairy products, aid in restoring minerals that your teeth have lost through other food items. They also aid in restoring enamel on your teeth.
Black and green teas. Both of these teas have polyphenols that can work with plaque bacteria. These chemicals stop or slow the growth of bacteria. They stop bacteria from growing and creating acid that damages teeth. It depends on the water used to make your tea; drinking tea may also contain fluoride.
Sugar-free chewing gum. Another great saliva maker that eliminates food particles from your mouth.
Also, Read How to Floss Your Teeth?
Foods that contain fluoride. Drinking fluoridated water or any other item, you create using fluoridated water aids in maintaining your teeth. It includes powdered juices (as they don't have much sugar) and dehydrated soups. Commercially prepared meals like seafood, poultry products, and powdered cereals can also contain fluoride.
These are bad guys
Avoid these:
Candy and sweets that are sticky. If you like sweets, make sure they go away from your mouth in a shorquicklytay, away from candy, caramels, and cough drops containing refined sugar. The effect of chocolate on the prevention of cavities has been extensively advertised (largely due to studies funded through the candy industry, but this has yet to be fully established. However, the ADA says chocolate washes off teeth faster than other sweets. Dark chocolate (70 percent cacao) is a good choice for health advantages. A few studies have found chocolate isn't as harmful as other sweets.
Starchy foods can become trapped in the mouth. Potato chips and soft bread are just two examples. They can become stuck in between the teeth.
The carbonated drinks are a major source of sugar. They are the most popular food source for added sugar in teens and kids. They are stuffed with sugar. Most soft drinks contain citric and phosphoric acids that cause tooth enamel to wear away.
Substances that can dry the mouth. This includes alcohol as well as many medications. If medications are the reason, contact your dentist about getting a fluoride wash or gel to clean your teeth.
Take care of your mouth health by eating healthy foods
The ADA provides these suggestions to reduce the chance of tooth decay due to the food you consume:
Consume sugary food during meals. Your mouth is more salivary when you eat. This can help reduce acidity's effects and remove food particles from your mouth.
Limit between-meal snacks. If you are craving a snack, pick something nutritious. You can chew sugarless gum afterward to boost saliva flow and eliminate food items and acid.
Make sure you drink more water. Fluoridated water can aid in preventing tooth decay. If you opt for water bottles, check the label to determine the fluoride amount.
Make sure you brush your teeth at least twice per day.
Every day, you should floss.