EATING FOR HEALTHY TEETH
Crash Dieting Affects More than Just Your Waistline
— Katie Feldpausch, Registered Dietitian
With the focus of the media on whitening systems, laser treatments and
personal care products, people are more concerned with their appearance
and physical health than ever. Research indicates that each of our 32
teeth provides yet another reason to watch what we eat. “Adequate
nutrition is important in disease prevention, and nutritional counseling
is becoming an increasingly important tactic in preventive dentistry,” said
Roger Smith, DDS, chair of Delta’s Dental Policy Committee. “The
quality and consistency of foods, and the combinations in which they
are eaten can affect the likelihood of tooth decay,” he said. Recent
research is suggesting that antioxidants and other nutrients that are
found in plant foods such as nuts, beans, fruits and vegetables may help
protect our teeth and gums from infection and infl ammation. In additions,
some foods that we are eating may have specifi c effects on having a
healthy mouth! Chew on this…
• Calcium and 
vitamin D have
been shown to reduce tooth loss in the elderly. Bone loss can also lead
to tooth loss so therefore the same guidelines for osteoporosis prevention
come into play in tooth retention; be sure you’re eating 2-3 servings
of low fat dairy every day to preserve the integrity of your gums! If
you aren’t a big fan of dairy, other sources of calcium include
dark leafy greens, fortifi ed orange juice, or canned salmon with bones.
Adults require 1,000-1,500 mg each day. You may even want to consider
taking a calcium supplement.
• Antioxidants, such as vitamin C,
E, and selenium, along with other nutrients found in fruits and vegetables
help protect the tissues in the mouth and prevent bacterial infections.
In fact, studies demonstrate that eating cranberries prevents bacteria
from attaching to the mouth before they can form damaging plaque. The
foods that are the richest in antioxidants include blueberries, tomatoes,
carrots, spinach, strawberries, apricots and peaches. Organic produce
has even higher amounts of antioxidants when compared to conventional
produce. Sugar is probably the worst thing you can eat for your teeth.
Sugar, natural and processed, is you’re tooth’s worst enemy
because it is the #1 cause of tooth decay! Sticky foods, such as toffee,
caramels, and slow dissolving hard candy also poses a risk for developing
cavities because they are not dissolved by saliva as quickly as other
foods. Even crackers and chips are bad for your teeth since they are
retained on your teeth for long period of time, breaking them down. Other
soft/sticky foods, like doughnuts, pastries, sweet rolls and processed
cereals should also be avoided as much as possible, for many obvious
reasons, including tooth decay. Eating hard fruits (like apples) rather
than drinking fruit juice does your teeth and gums a great favor. By
doing this, you are actually stimulating, cleaning and strengthening
your teeth while reducing the amount of sugar you are consuming. Vitamin
C is also essential in maintaining dental health and may event prevent
bad breath! This powerful antioxidant may protect your gums from becoming
damaged and actually aid the healing process. Vitamin C plays an important
role in collagen production which is the main protein block for healthy
cell production and also helps the gums fi ght infection. And if that
wasn’t enough, blood vessels also rely on the presence of vitamin
C to keep tissues in the mouth healthy and strong. Not eating enough
vitamin C may lead to bleeding or swollen gums and even tooth loss! With
a little more attentiveness and understanding of our oral care, there
will be some prettier smiles around southwest Michigan and less despair
from tooth decay.
You’re Invited...
Free Healthy Lifestyles Seminar: Our registered dietitian will provide a comprehensive and informative
seminar emphasizing the importance of healthy lifestyle habits as the
foundation for achieving optimal health. From nutrition & fi tness
basics to overcoming the media & cultural pressures that promote
low self-esteem & unhealthy habits, Healthy Lifestyles offers insightful
information, clear explanations & practical solutions to get EVERY
family on the board for good health. Saturday, April 14th @ 3pm or on
Thursday, April 19th @ 6pm, Zucca’s by Felpausch, 5700 Beckley
Rd.
Seating is limited. Please call (269)986-2523 or e-mail nutritionforlife_1@
yahoo.com to reserve your seat!
