With the weight loss and dieting industries worth more than $70 billion in the United States alone, it’s no wonder fad diets are becoming increasingly popular. People are trying all sorts of ways of eating in an attempt to fit into smaller clothes. While some of these diets might bring short-term weight loss, many of them do more harm than good, especially when it comes to your teeth. Here are three diet trends that your dentist in Lincoln recommends avoiding – or at least adjusting – for the sake of your oral health.
1. Juice Cleanses
Fruits and vegetables are healthy, so an all-juice diet must be healthy, right? However, when you only drink juice, you miss out on the fiber and other nutrients in the skins of fruits and veggies. These nutrients are vital in keeping your skin, hair, nails, and teeth looking healthy. Not to mention, fruit juices are ridiculously high in sugar and acid. They can stain and weaken your tooth enamel as well as increase the risk of cavities.
The Mouth-Healthy Solution:
Nutritionists have confirmed that your body doesn’t need help “detoxifying.” That’s what your liver and kidneys are for. Instead of doing a juice cleanse, try to eat plenty of fruits and vegetables in their whole form to reap their health benefits.
2. Raw Food Diets
Eating mostly raw foods also seems like a healthy option; you avoid artificial chemicals and preservatives. However, raw food diets could all too easily ruin your teeth since they’re high in fruits, seeds, and nuts. As previously mentioned, the sugar in fruits can lead to cavities. Nuts and seeds can erode your enamel and get stuck in your teeth, encouraging the growth of dangerous bacteria.
The Mouth-Healthy Solution:
While raw foods like apples, almonds, and spinach can benefit your oral and overall health, be sure to eat them in moderation. Balance them out with cooked foods, which are generally softer and easier on your teeth.
3. Several Small Meals a Day
People who eat five to eight smaller meals per day rather than three larger ones tend to have lower body fat percentages, but this diet may come at the cost of your oral health. Why? Your teeth are vulnerable to damage from bacteria for 30 to 60 minutes after eating. The more frequently you eat, the more often your teeth are at risk.
The Mouth-Healthy Solution:
You can still “graze” throughout the day as long as you take measures to protect your teeth. Right after you eat one of your small meals, swish some water around in your mouth. You could also chew sugar-free gum. Just be sure to wait at least 30 minutes after eating to brush your teeth.
Don’t Let Your Diet Harm Your Smile!
No matter why you’re trying one of these diet trends, make sure that you’re not harming your teeth in the process. If you’re not sure how your diet is impacting your oral health, ask your dentist. They’ll be more than happy to help!
About the Author
Dr. Louis Olberding obtained his Doctor of Dental Surgery degree in 1999 from the University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Dentistry. Since then, he has completed extensive continuing education courses in a variety of areas of dentistry, allowing him to provide a vast array of dental services under one roof. To learn more about maintaining a mouth-healthy diet, you can contact Olberding Dental at 402-488-2325.