This month, DentalPros is teaming up with Tucson Village Farm to educate the public on how eating healthy foods pertains to overall health improvement and healthy teeth. This will lead to less dental visits and less cavities in the end. Teeth are important for our daily eating, but they are also a direct result of our eating habits. We all want to reach for that bag of chips or muffin, but those foods can leave a sticky film on our teeth resulting in unwanted bacteria (plaque) lingering around our teeth. The acid from the bacteria slowly eats away at the tooth surface and over time results in cavities. If you decide to reach for a carrot or apple, the plaque buildup on your teeth is mechanically removed. So, our goal is to inform the public how the relationship between food and oral health are connected.
First, let’s start with how nutrition can aid oral health. Teeth are living things in our mouth; they have a blood supply to them. They are also surrounded by tissue. Therefore, “Diet and nutrition affect the health of the tissues in the mouth; and the health of the mouth affects nutrients consumed.” (ADA, 2021). With that being said, we can understand that what we put into our bodies affects the teeth and their ability to stay strong and healthy for us. For example, when we want that candy apple from the fair, we must have strong enough teeth to bite into it.
Secondly, what nutrition does a tooth need to be healthy? Calcium-rich foods like cheese, milk and yogurt. Also, phosphorus foods such as lean meat, eggs, nuts and beans. Another important addition to your daily intake is Vitamin C, which of course shouldn’t be hard to find here in Arizona! Our friends at the Tucson Village Farm are a great resource to learn about citrus fruits as well as tomatoes, potatoes and spinach. Tucson Village Farm focuses on teaching our community how to grow and plant your own nutritional foods.
We’ve partnered with Tucson Village Farm to encourage both oral health and nutrition. Nutrient-rich foods aid in overall oral health. Come check us out at DentalPros to see how your diet is affecting your teeth. The connection between our teeth and the food we eat is clear, and we want everyone to be aware of it to prevent the need for future dental treatment. Here’s to a long life of biting into apples!
