Understand Food Impact To Keep Your Teeth Intact!

By Author: Dr Hema Patel Breedlove
Total Articles: 21
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Anthropologists claim that the ancient humans had much healthier teeth than the modern man! And this has been deduced from the remains uncovered from the depths of the earth. It is surprising how people maintained better oral health at a time when there were no toothpastes, rinses or mouthwashes. Read on to find out.

In pre-historic times people chewed on specific plant herbs to make indigenous toothbrushes and keep bad breath away. Different cultures across the globe have ancient beliefs about certain plants being excellent for oral health. However, the most significant factor that contributed to much better teeth in ancient times was the comparatively raw and natural diet that was consumed.

A diet of vegetables, crunchy fruits, nuts and meat was common and proved to be good for teeth. Once farming developed, people started growing grains to produce flour. This evolved into the making of flour-related products. At this point sugar and carbohydrates started entering the meal plans and that is when teeth began to suffer.

Going by this anthropological finding it can be imagined how much damage the modern ...
... day diet causes to our teeth! We consume sugars and carbohydrates day in and day out. The sodas, the candies, the jams, the jellies, pickles, vinegar and salad dressings, all contain acid that eats away at tooth enamel. Our sports drinks, instant drink mixes and aerated drinks contain huge amounts of processed sugars that are a grave threat to our teeth.

With food technology we have learnt to preserve food for longer durations but preservatives are very damaging to teeth and gums. Preserved food may taste better but it is not healthier. Our beverages and condiments that form essentials to a good meal today are slowly eating away at the protective enamel of our teeth. This includes the harm that even small toddlers are coming to as they are initiated into the same eating habits as the adults!

The market shelves are flooded with packaged, instant, easy and tasty appearing food items. We go blindly and impulsively into grocery stores and pick up stuff that appeal to our eyes, nose or mouth, without taking the health aspect into consideration at all. The advertising and marketing and packaging of preservative laden foods do not warn you about the bad effects on your overall health including that to your teeth.

The onus lies on you to be an informed citizen and make the right choices if you want a long, healthy innings for something as important as your teeth. Children especially need to be encouraged to adopt healthy eating habits early in their lives so that they do not suffer later. But to teach a child one has to mostly lead by example! Change your own negative habits so that your children can see, observe and follow.

Instant food can appear to be a boon for busy parents but if you plan ahead can you not provide healthier options to your family at least sometimes if not all the time? Making a small change now can make all the difference in the long run. Do not procrastinate; take a step in the right direction today. Include fresh vegetables, fruits, meat and nuts in your diet like they did it in the ancient world. Avoid sugary foods and stuff that has complex carbohydrates.

Your dentist who is an expert in family and cosmetic dentistry is the best person to advice you on oral health issues. Fix an appointment today with an open mind for suggestions that can change your life.

The author of this article is associated with Smile Plus Dentistry, a renowned name in the field of preventative, cosmetic and restorative dentistry. Under the tutelage of Dr. Hema Patel, this clinic provides teeth restoration and smile designing for creating strong and enduring solutions for patients. You can visit the website of Smile Plus for all details about expert dental services.