The Role of Nutrition in Holistic Dentistry

The Role of Nutrition in Holistic Dentistry

Apr 01, 2023

Holistic Dentistry: How Nutrition Affects Oral Health

Holistic dental care is an alternative approach to traditional dentistry. It’s also known as alternative, natural, unconventional, biocompatible, and Integrative dentistry. More people have recently been attracted to natural remedies and techniques over conventional treatments. While holistic dentistry primarily focuses on alternate remedies, sometimes holistic dentists can combine holistic dentistry with conventional methods.

How does holistic dentistry Work?

Holistic oral care considers that your oral and overall health are connected. Your oral health can impact specific aspects of your body and vice versa. Thus, holistic dentists address various oral problems by reviewing all aspects of your health, including your emotional, spiritual, and physical health.

While holistic dentists use natural techniques, they are medical professionals and require dental practice licenses like other dental professionals. Like your general dentist, a holistic dentist can help prevent and treat oral problems like gum disease and decay. Holistic treatments are often minimally invasive and aim to improve your overall health.

The Link between Nutrition and oral health

While there are various aspects of how your mouth and body work together, diet is one of the significant aspects. What you eat can negatively or positively impact the health of your teeth, gums, bone, and mouth. Below are several ways how:

Sugar

Many people know that eating sweets can cause cavities. But that’s not the entire story. Anything sugary, including healthy items like apples, can increase your risk of cavities. Your mouth consists of millions of bacteria that feed on the sugars and starch you eat.

A diet with high sugar and starch can cause these bacteria to overgrow and multiply. Over time, these bacteria release harmful toxins that erode your teeth’ enamel and irritate and infect the gum tissues. It can lead to mild to serious oral issues like teeth sensitivity, tooth decay, gum recession, bleeding gums, bad breath, bone loss, and tooth loss.

Frequency of eating

Your frequency of eating or drinking can also impact how oral bacteria behave. Every time you eat or drink anything, your mouth’s pH drops. If it drops below 5.5, the harmful oral bacteria thrive while the good bacteria die off. You must reduce the number of times you feed daily to lower your risk of bacterial infections. Also, avoid low-pH beverages like sports drinks, energy drinks, and soda.

Acidity

Besides sugar, eating foods high in acidity can affect your dental health. For instance, highly acidic products like apple cider, limes, and wine break down the minerals in your teeth’ enamel, causing erosion. It can lead to tooth sensitivity, dental fractures, and tooth decay. The risk is higher if you brush your teeth immediately after consuming acidic items. Acids soften your teeth, making them more vulnerable to erosion, bacteria, and other damage.

Hard or sticky items

Chewing raw nuts, seeds, ice, and your favorite hard candy might feel enjoyable until it causes your tooth to chip or break. Hard foods can cause significant pressure on the tooth, causing it to chip, crack, or break. While sticky items like caramel and chocolate won’t break your tooth, they get trapped on it and are harder to clean, encouraging bacteria and plaque build-up in the mouth.

What to Eat For Healthy Teeth, Gums, and Mouth

A proper diet will strengthen your teeth and keep your mouth healthy and disease-free. Great foods for oral nutrition include:

  • Fiber. According to the ADA, foods high in fiber can help keep your teeth strong and gums clean. For instance, high-fiber foods promote saliva production, which helps balance your oral pH and wash away food debris and bacteria. Similarly, saliva contains traces of essential minerals like phosphate and calcium, which help remineralize your teeth and protect them from bacterial acids.
  • Dairy products. Dairy products like cheese, plain yogurt, and milk stimulate saliva production, which helps keep your mouth healthy and clean. Similarly, they are rich in calcium, phosphates, and other essential nutrients that strengthen your teeth and promote good oral health.
  • Sugar-free Gum. Chewing sugar-free gum can promote saliva flow, helping you keep your mouth clean and disease free.
  • Nuts and seeds. Healthy nuts like sesame, Brazil nuts, almonds, and cashew are high in calcium, phosphorous, and other nutrients that help remineralize your teeth and fight bacteria that cause oral infections.
  • Drink fluoride water. Most tap waters contain fluoride, which helps remineralize your enamel and fight decay. Seas foods and poultry can also be good sources of fluoride.
  • Black and green tea. These teas are high in polyphenols which kill or hold back oral bacteria from making acids that erode teeth. They keep you hydrated and healthy.

Are you interested in Holistic dentistry in Glastonbury, CT?

Do you have more questions about holistic dental care and nutrition? Contact Steven F. Hinchey, DMD, to book your appointment today.

860-633-6518 Book Appointment
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