Summer is right around the corner, and with it comes swimsuit season, shorts, and sleeveless tops. Maybe you have a trip to the beach coming up, or perhaps you just want to get in better shape before lounging by the pool in your swim trunks or bikini. This is the time of year that many people consider a diet shift in order to shed a few pounds. If you’re in that boat, it’s important to understand that there are some fad diets that may seem good for your waistline, but they can be very bad for your oral health. Keep reading to learn more.
How Do Fad Diets Affect Oral Health?
Dieting can be great for both your mental and physical health, but you will want to make sure you’re doing it in the healthiest way possible. Here are three different popular diets that can actually do more harm than good by wreaking havoc on your oral health:
Juice Cleanses
When it comes to detoxifying the digestive system, juice cleanses are often a popular diet choice, but regarding your oral health, you may want to think twice before jumping on this fad diet train.
Why? Many fruit and vegetable juices are high in both acid and sugar content, and over time, the acid can begin to wear down the enamel on your teeth. This will make them more susceptible to decay and more easily affected by the natural sugar. Plus, when you extract and consume only the juice from a fruit or veggie, you’re actually missing out on fiber and other nutrients.
What to Do: Keep whole fruits and vegetables as a part of your balanced diet instead of juicing them. That way, your teeth as well as your entire body will benefit.
Raw Food
Many celebrities boast of eating an all raw food diet to maintain their Hollywood figure. While you may be able to avoid certain preservatives and chemicals found in processed foods, raw foods come with their own complications when it comes to the health of your teeth and gums:
Why? The menu items on a raw food diet often involve a large number of nuts, seeds, and fruits. When these are consumed in excess, chewing on hard seeds or nuts can weaken the teeth and increase the risk of them cracking or breaking.
What to Do: It’s still important to incorporate nuts and fruit into your diet because of their health benefits, but just make sure you’re being mindful of how hard they are, and consider flossing afterwards to remove any seeds that may have gotten lodged between your teeth.
Multiple Smaller Meals Throughout the Day
In order to speed up your metabolism by keeping it active throughout the day, many dieticians recommend eating more often, but in smaller portions. While this might serve a purpose to slim down your waistline, it’s important to understand the impact it can have on your oral health:
Why? Every time you eat food, your teeth become very prone to damage for up to an hour afterward. Like most people, you probably aren’t in a situation where you can easily brush your teeth after every single meal, meaning the more often you eat, the more plaque will build up on your teeth, increasing your risk of developing cavities or gum disease.
What to Do: If eating smaller meals throughout the day is just your thing, just be sure to be extra mindful about how you’re caring for your teeth. Consider bringing a travel toothbrush along and brush as often as you can after a meal.
You can eat healthy and slim down without putting your oral health at risk. Talk to your dentist about the best foods they recommend to keep your smile looking lovely and your body feeling amazing!
About the Practice
Dr. Neil Flenniken and Dr. Suzan Rismani-Flenniken lead the team of experts at their private practice in Carlisle. They believe that the best oral health starts with education, so they are committed to making sure that each of their patients is armed with the knowledge and tools they need to maintain beautiful smiles. They both have decades of experience and are highly trained and educated. Is it time for your next dental checkup? You can schedule an appointment online or call (717) 249-7777.
