Dieting can be about changing the way your body looks. In some cases it can be changing how your body feels. Yet with this change, most of us rarely think about how our teeth might change.
Of course there are a number of different diets that people need to be on in order to stay healthy and protect their body. However other ‘celebrity inspired’ diets that may be achieving the body shape you want could also be ruining your smile.
At TFI Dentistry in Thornlands and Labrador we are committed to giving our patients all the information they need so they can make informed decisions about their diet and protecting their smile. Ultimately every set of teeth is different and every diet can affect them differently.
Below we have listed a few different things that may be helping you lose weight, but may also be ruining your smile:
The ‘small meals’ diet
While some personal trainers and dieticians may suggest that you eat 6 – 8 small meals a day, unfortunately constant snacking may be detrimental to your teeth.
After you eat something your teeth can be vulnerable for up to an hour after to the bacteria in food. These bacteria can wear away at your teeth and ultimately cause tooth decay.
Hop tip: If you are having lots of little meals it’s important to brush in the morning and night after eating and swish water around your mouth after any other small meals to help prevent cavities.
Juice cleanses
While the juice cleanse diet has been very controversial medically, it is also controversial when it comes to your teeth. While the most predominant issue is the concern you may not get the nutrients you need, your teeth can also suffer from this diet.
Many of the fruits used in a juice cleanse diet have a high level of acidity. The acid in these fruits can eat away at the enamel of your teeth, causing discoloration and decay.
In addition to this, many fruits have a high level of sugar which can also be detrimental to your teeth and your overall health.
Hop tip: If you are committed to being on a juice diet, it can be beneficial to base the diet more so on juiced vegetables rather than acidic, sugary fruits. The worst offenders are pineapple, orange and lemon.
Diet foods
Many people supplement soft drinks and other food items with the diet version. Leaving aside the potential health concerns, unfortunately diet foods are often complimented with artificial sweeteners. These artificial sweeteners can be highly damaging to your teeth as they can rot the tooth’s enamel.
Diet and low fat foods can also have an increased sugar content in order to counterbalance the reduced fat. This added sugar can be deceptive and can lead to unexpected cavities and tooth decay.
Hop tip: Be aware of the damage diet foods can cause and use a straw when drinking any diet soft drinks to help prevent any contact between the liquid and your teeth. In addition to this, it is important to check the label on diet food to ensure that the sugar content is low.
So what is the best thing to do when considering a new celebrity inspired diet?
When you are considering a new diet and the impact this may have on your teeth it is important to consult a trained professional. Our dental professionals in Thornlands and Labrador are happy to discuss your dieting questions with you. We can give you some tips about dieting and dental health, as well as assess your dental health all in a general check-up appointment.
If you would like to book a general check-up, or you would like to learn more about dieting and your teeth, please contact our dental professionals today.
