Your Diet as Part of Your Dental Care. Charlottesville Dental Advice from Dr. Jack Kayton

You keep up on your dental hygiene and your regular checkups so that your teeth stay healthy and strong. But did you know that what you eat could actually help your teeth too?

Here are a few hints and tips on things to add or subtract from your diet for improved oral health. The bonus? Your body will be healthier too!

Ÿ  Add more milk, cheese or yogurt to your diet.  Dairy products seem to lessen the occurrence or tooth and gum disease and protect your tooth enamel by providing necessary calcium.

Ÿ   Drink tea! Compounds in black tea can kill growth and acid production of cavity-causing bacteria in dental plaque.

Ÿ  Add fresh, unprocessed foods to your diet. In other words, if you want a snack between meals, try something like crisp and fresh raw veggies or crunchy fruit.

Ÿ  Cut down on sugary or carbohydrate rich foods and add more Xylitol-based gum and mints. Xylitol actually helps prevent the formation of cavities!

Ÿ  Avoid foods that have the dangerous three – sugar, acid and stickiness. Sour gummies or tangy taffy kinds of candy are probably the worst in this category, but even dried fruits can be a culprit in causing tooth damage.

Ÿ  If you do eat or drink highly acidic things such as sports drinks or lemonade, be sure to wait at least 30 minutes before you brush to avoid further damaging your enamel.

For more information about how our dental care, coupled with a good diet, can keep your smile healthy and strong for life, call me Dr. Jack Kayton at my Charlottesville Dental Office at 434.977.3939.