What we eat matters a lot more than we think that it does. As humans, most of us seek pleasure rather than what is good for us. We tend to follow our taste buds rather than what our body actually needs. This can be quite harmful for us in the long run. While our taste buds have a voice and can easily convey to us what it likes and what it doesn’t, the same cannot be said for the body.
The body cannot convey what it needs and what it doesn’t. But it does speak to us, only after it has started facing damage to itself. The diet that we follow, the food that we eat, all of this largely affects our health. This article is specially designed to help us understand how diet specifically affects one’s oral health.
Risks to Oral Health
DIfferent Age groups have different risk factors associated with teeth associated with diets
Risks faced by children and teens:
Children and teens are in a state of growth. Hence it is very important that we focus on preserving their oral health from a younger age. This is because their teeth and gums are growing, meaning that it is vulnerable and requires proper nutrition. Depriving them of this necessary nutrition and the consumption of excessive sugary treats can result in early-onset oral problems such as tooth decay and poor gums.
Risks faced by the elderly:
The elderly are in the last stage of their life. Their growth and their body’s ability to heal slow its pace. Poor nutrition can result in tooth loss, gum disease and other oral health issues which can affect their ability to taste, bite, chew and swallow food. Their age makes them more prone to oral health issues and hence they need to take more sincere care of it.
Common risk factors:
Excessive consumption of chewy and sticky foods, sugary snacks, carbonated soft drinks, fruit drinks, energy drinks, and acidic food and beverages can adversely impact one’s oral health. Sugar is the greatest enemy of oral health. So it is important to cut down on sugar and sugar-based products if one cares about their oral health.
Safeguarding Oral Health
One can safeguard their oral health by consuming lots of green vegetables, meat, nuts, and milk. These provide one with the necessary nutrients that actually contribute to oral health: strengthening the gums and preventing tooth decay. The calcium in milk can help build strong teeth.
The iron in meat can help prevent mouth sores and tongue inflammations. Vitamin C in citric fruits can help strengthen gums, but an excess of it can also adversely impact the gums and teeth. The potassium in green vegetables can ensure that calcium loss does not take place.
So in the end, it is much more important that we listen to our body’s silent cries initially, rather than waiting to face the after-effects that it has on us. It is very important that we preserve our oral health rather than lose it for the sake of pleasurable snacking. So snack healthy and stay healthy!