Everyone knows that brushing and flossing every day are both important ways to keep your teeth and gums healthy. What most people don’t realize is that having a healthy lifestyle also adds to keeping your mouth clean and in good shape.
How does a healthy lifestyle affect healthy teeth? First off, having poor nutrition affects your entire immune system which will lead to a higher risk for periodontal diseases. Studies have also shown that conditions like cardiovascular disease and diabetes are linked to oral health.
The best place to start when trying to take care of your body and teeth is your diet. A well-balanced diet is the best way to keep yourself healthy and feeling great. Be sure to eat foods from the different groups like fruit and vegetables, protein-rich foods like fish, meat, and eggs, starches like pasta, bread, and potatoes, and some dairy products like milk, cheese, and yogurt.
It’s also important to eliminate certain foods to help maintain a healthy mouth. Any sort of sugary snack that sticks or clings to your teeth, like candy and some dried fruits, should be avoided. To find out more on a healthy diet, check out Nutrition.gov.
Diet isn’t the only thing to help keep your mouth clean. Most adults have a hard time keeping their teeth and gums healthy because of habits they’ve picked up. Smoking cigarettes is not only harmful to your lungs, but also stains your teeth and can lead to mouth cancer. Drinking alcohol in excess is also dangerous to your overall health, and can lead to yellow stains on your teeth – especially wine.
It’s important to contact your dentist if you think that changing your dietary habits will be too difficult due to pain or tooth loss or to better understand the importance of changing your lifestyle to help better your teeth and gums.
