Every year, about 45 million Americans go on diets in an effort to reach a healthier weight or improve their self-image. If you’ve been thinking about dieting, you may have already heard about some trendy ways to go about it. But what you probably won’t hear about these diets is that they can have unintended consequences for your oral health. Here are 3 diet trends that you should stay away from if you want to keep your smile safe.
1. Juice Cleanses
A juice cleanse is a diet where the only things you consume are vegetable and fruit juices. This supposedly helps remove toxins from your digestive system in order to help you lose weight. However, not only do juice cleanses have insufficient evidence backing them up, but they can also end up doing direct harm to your teeth. Most juices are acidic and will weaken your enamel, making your teeth more likely to break. They also tend to be high in natural and artificial sugars, which feed cavity-causing bacteria. It’s better to choose a diet that involves eating plenty of fruits in vegetables in their whole form. It’s okay to have some juice every once in a while, but it’s best to drink it in small amounts and through a straw so that it has the least amount of contact with your teeth.
2. Small Meals
Many dieticians recommend eating 6 to 8 small meals throughout the day instead of 3 large ones. People who follow this diet do tend to eat less fat and get more healthy carbohydrates. However, the downside is that eating throughout the day can leave your teeth more vulnerable to damage. Whenever you eat, food and bacteria leave acids on your enamel, softening it. Normally, your saliva is supposed to neutralize and wash away these acids before they cause long-term damage, but if you’re constantly eating, it won’t get the chance. If you do decide to pursue this kind of diet, take steps to protect your teeth by swishing with water after every meal; this will help rinse food and acids away so that they aren’t sitting on the teeth for too long.
3. Raw Food Diets
A raw food diet is meant to help you get the nutrients you need while staying away from preservatives and chemicals. This diet usually involves eating a lot of fruit and nuts. But since fruit contains a lot of sugar and nuts can encourage bacteria growth if they get stuck in your smile, you could end up putting your teeth at a higher risk for decay. Of course, such foods can be very healthy as long as you eat them in moderation and are diligent about taking care of your teeth afterwards.
Dieting can be the first step towards a healthier lifestyle, but you shouldn’t have to sacrifice your smile for it. Talk to your dentist in Chesterton before starting any kind of diet; they can give you some suggestions for taking care of your teeth and your waistline at the same time.
About the Author
Dr. Danny Hayes earned his dental degree at the Temple University School of Dentistry in Philadelphia. As a 14-year dental veteran, he makes it his goal to give his patients smiles that are healthy, attractive, and comfortable. He is more than happy to explain the link between oral health and overall health so that you can make informed decisions about both. Are you looking to schedule your first visit with Dr. Hayes at Advanced Dental Concepts? Visit his website or call (219) 926-7595.