mouth
After all the temptations of Christmas, we often feel in need of a New Year revitilisation. In January, people often start new diets and the gym memberships are renewed after all the excesses have taken a toll on their bodies.
But it’s not just a fitter and healthier body we should be concerned with – our teeth may also need some TLC. A month of consuming seasonal specialities means they may spend more time exposed to the consequences of sugar and carbohydrates and of course after a few drinks at the Christmas party its likely that you fall into bed a little but worse for wear without cleaning your teeth.
There is good news, by following this guide; both your mouth and midriff can get into great shape.
Top Tips for a healthy body and smile
A healthy mouth could mean a healthy body too. According to research there is a relationship between having a healthy mouth and a healthy body.
Keeping a clean and healthy mouth can therefore improve your overall good health. To have a healthy mouth, when eating there are some important considerations – like eating nutritious meals, being aware of the amount and timing of consuming sugars and carbohydrates, and maintaining good oral hygiene after meals and snacks.
The key to a healthy, balanced diet and lifestyle are eating the right amounts of a variety of foods, and being physically active. To help us eat well, the Food Standards Agency recommends that we choose foods from each of the five major food groups: breads, cereals, and other grains; fruits; vegetables; meat, poultry and fish; and milk, cheese and yogurt.
An adequate supply of nutrients from all five food groups promotes healthy teeth and gums as well as a healthy body. Eating foods that contain sugars and carbohydrates of any kind can contribute to tooth decay, if left unchecked. Foods you least expect to, do contain sugar. However; they should not be removed from our diets because many of them contain key nutrients and these foods also add pleasure to eating, just be sure to eat them in moderation.
Healthy foods for teeth
Drinking fruit juices and smoothies as part of a New Year â€renewal†can help to boost vitamins, and are okay for your teeth if you pay attention to your oral care.
Some foods help protect against tooth decay. For example, hard cheese increases the flow of saliva. Cheese also contains calcium, phosphate and casein, a milk protein, which protects against demineralization. Finishing a meal with a piece of cheese helps counteract acids produced from carbohydrate foods eaten at the same meal. Milk also contains calcium, phosphate and casein, and the milk sugar, lactose, is less cariogenic than other sugars.
Most nutrition panels on food labels give values for carbohydrates, including a breakdown of sugars and starches. Read the labels and choose wisely to meet your energy and nutrient needs.
Chew on it
After a meal or snack, one of the easiest ways to help inhibit the build up of plaque is to chew sugarfree gum after eating and drinking. That’s because the action of chewing stimulates saliva production – nature’s very own ingredient for neutralising harmful acids in the mouth.
Saliva works its magic in three ways. First, it helps to dilute and wash away food and other debris left in the teeth and mouth after eating. Then it helps to neutralise the acids in the mouth. And as if that wasn’t enough, the calcium, phosphate fluoride, and hydroxyl ions in saliva help to protect against early damage to tooth enamel.
Plus, chewing sugarfree gum is a great way to freshen your breath after eating, and as an added bonus, chewing also keeps your mouth busy so you won’t be tempted to go back for seconds, or snack on your favourite nibble after your main meal.
Mouth and teeth MOT
- 1.Choose your toothpaste wisely - Always make sure your toothpaste contains fluoride to help to strengthen and help protect the teeth.
- 2.Use a new toothbrush - Replace your toothbrush every three months or sooner if the tufts have become worn or splayed.
- 3.Make a dentist appointment - If you do not visit your dentist regularly, make an appointment - the dentist can tell you how often you should have a check-up.
- 4.Chew sugarfree gum - Chewing sugarfree gum such as Orbit Completeâ„¢ as recommended by the British Dental Health Foundation has been clinically proven to help prevent the build up of plaque on teeth and to help to keep your teeth healthy, clean and fresh after meals and snacks.