If you’re trying to reach goals regarding your health, a diet can be a great way to get there when done properly. There are all sorts of reasons why people may want to decide to try out a new diet. Whether you are looking to drop a few pounds, cut out processed foods, or just be healthier, there is a diet out there for that purpose. However, some fad diets aren’t very good for your oral health. A dentist in Hamden explains which ones you should be wary about.
Juice Cleanses
Even those these types of diets seem to make sense, they aren’t so great for your smile. Fruits and vegetables are good for you, so their juice must be as well, right? The truth is that only drinking these juice of these products, you are missing out on much of the fiber and nutrients that your body needs to keep your skin, nails, and hair in good health. A juice diet could cause you to experience the following issues with your teeth:
- Enamel Damage: Juice contains lots of sugar and acid, just like soda does. This can cause your enamel to erode over time and leave you with weak, discolored teeth.
- Stability Loss: When you have a low-calorie diet, your insulin levels are affected. If you are on a juice cleanse for a long period of time, you could end up with issues related to your natural collagen. This is what holds your teeth into place.
- Cavities: Bacteria in the mouth feed off of both natural and artificial sugars. Because you are consuming so much sugar when you drink juice, you are more likely to experience cavities.
Small Meals
As opposed of having three meals a day, people who follow this fad diet have six to eight small meals throughout the day. This help people to consume less fat, healthier carbs, and more fruits and vegetables. There are all sorts of benefits of doing this for your overall health, but it puts your teeth at risk. Your enamel is extra vulnerable for up to an hour after you eat. The more frequently you eat, the most likely you are to have dental issues.
Raw Foods Diet
Raw food can get you all of the nutrients that you need without you having to worry about unhealthy preservatives. If you want to avoid processed snacks, this is the diet for you. However, there is still some potential harm associated with a raw food diet. Because fruit contains natural sugar, you can easily end up with tooth decay. Seeds and nuts can get lodged between the teeth and encourage additional bacterial growth. Be sure that you are choosing foods that will benefit your smile, like apples, carrots, and cranberries.
If you’re looking to start a new diet, be sure to see how it will affect your oral health first. When you stick to healthy options, keep up excellent oral hygiene, and see your dentist for regular cleanings and checkups, you can maintain a strong, healthy smile!
About the Author
Dr. Ronald J. D’Andrea earned his DMD from the University of Connecticut School of Dental Medicine and served as President of the New Haven Dental Association from 2001 to 2002. Currently, he is a member of the American Dental Association and the Connecticut State Dental Association. For more ways to keep your smile healthy or to schedule an appointment, visit his website or call (203) 288-0951.
