Nutrition

Diet and nutrition play a major role in your oral health. Most people don’t realize this profound impact until they continue to have oral health problems despite regular dental checkups and meticulous oral hygiene homecare. Remember, the health of your teeth is linked to systemic health, therefore what is good for one is also good for the other.

It is possible to give your teeth the vitamins needed to rebuild and strengthen from the inside. Vitamin D, Vitamin A, and Vitamin K2 are crucial vitamins we must all have to sustain a healthy mouth. Adequate amounts of these ensure your body can absorb calcium, ensure calcium gets where it is most needed and supports bone development. Other vitamins and minerals important to oral health include fiber, magnesium, Omega 3 fats, and zinc.

What foods have these vitamins and minerals? Think of a whole health approach to eating. Stick to the outside of the grocery store. Avoid processed foods, refined sugars, snacking, carbonated drinks, sodas, fruit juices, energy drinks. This is only the tip of the iceberg. Our Downtown Dentists can help guide you through this process. For a detailed dental diet and more specific foods to eat, check out Dr. Steven Lin’s book, The Dental Diet.

If you are looking to be more proactive and take control of your oral health, it all starts with what you are eating!