Introduction
According to Iqaluit Dental Clinic, many people believe that good brushing and flossing habits are the keys to maintaining excellent oral health. However, did you know that most of your oral problems are caused due to the type of food you eat? In fact, your diet has a significant impact on the health of your teeth.
The Details
Let’s look at a few points that will help you to understand how diet matters more than brushing for strong teeth:
- Ancient vs modern diet – According to the discoveries made by Dentist Weston A. Price in the 1930s, ancient people had dramatically better dental health compared to modern people. And the major reason is their diet. The diet of ancient people consisted of fish and seafood, fruits and vegetables, nuts and seeds, meats that included all parts of an animal, and oils and butter in certain civilizations.
Modern research has proven this to be true since our bodies have adapted over thousands of years to follow a specific diet pattern — the diet of the people of the Paleolithic era.
When researchers visited people of native tribes, they found their diets to be very different from modern-day people, but they all had straight and disease-free teeth. However, when they were introduced to a modern diet that consists of bread-laden, starchy, processed food, they started suffering from orthodontic problems and cavities in just one generation.
- The missing element in the modern diet – According to further research, it was discovered that the diet of native cultures included an ingredient that is missing from the modern diet. Previously, the nutrient was identified as ‘Activator X’ which later came to be known as vitamin K2 which is vital for the synergistic movement of calcium throughout the body.
When you consume food rich in vitamins A, D, and K2, it helps to strengthen the teeth and bones of your body and reduce the risk of tooth decay. According to another theory, the modern-day diet also lacks the appropriate number of textures which helps in mastication (chewing) to keep your teeth clean and free of plaque.
- How saliva helps to maintain strong teeth – The extracellular fluid known as saliva is important to your teeth’ health since it helps to deliver nutrients and protect your teeth from harmful bacteria to reduce tooth decay and cavities. Generally, brushing doesn’t help to improve the quality or production of saliva.
On the other hand, a diet that consists of nutrient-dense food but is low in acidic ingredients, processed sugars, empty calories, and artificial sugars can promote the production of healthy saliva that keeps your teeth healthy.
Conclusion
Iqaluit Dental Clinic suggests you switch to a tooth-friendly diet to keep your teeth healthy and ensure you don’t cause harm to your oral health. Furthermore, it is crucial to follow good brushing habits. That means brushing your teeth at least twice a day and after meals using fluoride or hydroxyapatite toothpaste. This will prevent the growth of harmful bacteria and the formation of plaque inside your mouth.
