Oral health and nutrition are like the chicken and the egg -- without one, it is difficult to have the other. If you have poor oral health, it can be difficult to obtain the nutrition you need, but without good nutrition, you may not have good oral health. Teeth can last a lifetime if they are not deprived of nutrients or exposed to substances that lead to decay and gum disease.
Balanced Diet
Your teeth and mouth are no different from any other part of your body in that they need good overall nutrition. For example, the vitamins A and C are important to the formation and maintenance of healthy teeth, gums and mucus membranes, while vitamin D is necessary for the absorption of calcium, which, in turn, is needed for healthy teeth. Sound sources of vitamin A are dark green, leafy vegetables, such as spinach or kale, fortified milk and dairy products, egg yolks and orange vegetables and fruits, such as carrots and apricots. Good sources of vitamin C are broccoli, cabbage, potatoes, tomatoes and citrus fruits. Vitamin D is present in fatty fish, such as salmon, mackerel and herring, as well as fortified cereals and dairy products.
Carbohydrates
The bacteria that create dental plaque feed on carbohydrates by fermenting them into lactic acid and other acids. The acids cause tooth decay, while plaque causes gum disease. The bacteria can ferment both simple and complex carbohydrates, but the process is much faster with simple carbohydrates. Simple carbohydrates are present in such foods as candy, pastries, syrups and honey. Complex carbohydrates are present in vegetables, fruits and grains. Although these foods can eventually feed the bacteria, the fiber they contain helps clean the teeth. In addition, fruits, vegetables and grains provide nutrients important to dental and overall health.
Soda and Juice
Soda is not only the main source of refined sugar -- a simple carbohydrate -- in American diets, it also contains phosphoric acid, citric acid and carbonic acid. These acids cause chemical erosion of teeth. The length and frequency of exposure to these acids affect how quickly teeth are damaged, so if you must drink a soda, do so through a straw to limit its contact with your teeth. Both soda and fruit juice often replace milk in the diets of many children and teens, which can deprive teeth and the rest of the body of needed calcium. Fruit juice lacks the fiber of whole fruit and contains large amounts of sugars. Instead of soda or juice as a snack drink, it's healthier for your teeth -- and your weight -- to choose water.
Water
Water is a good beverage choice, because it is free of sugar and acids. By swishing water through your mouth before swallowing, you can also rinse away food particles that bacteria can feed on. Fluoridated water has the added advantage of making teeth resistant to decay. Many municipal water suppliers add fluoride to their water. If you do not have fluoridated water where you live, you can apply fluoride to your teeth through fluoridated toothpaste or mouthwash.
