Friday, November 15, 2013

Weight Loss Plans: The Dental Connection!

Seems like many Americans are constantly fighting weight gain.  Studies have shown that many "FAD Diets" or gimmicks don't work, and, in the long run, may even be more harmful than good for your health!  However, did you know that following a sensible diet of simply replacing those unhealthy sugar-laden snacks with healthier alternatives can have some unconsidered dental risks!

Many diets choose to substitute unhealthy carbs like breads with an increased consumption of fresh fruits.  But did you know, that certain fruits are very acidic and can weaken the enamel coating of your teeth.  The most acidic fruits are grapes, grapefruits and strawberries. Even apples are considered to top the list!

Next, salads are usually a mainstay for most healthy diet plans.  But consider what you put in those salads.  Salad dressings are filled with vinegar and sweeteners.  These make a salad very acidic and can change the pH of your mouth from alkaline to acidic, which can put your smile at risk.

Finally, diet soda consumption seems to be considered a safe diet choice over sugared soda. However, all forms of diet soda have citric acid, which has been shown to dissolve tooth enamel. Calories may not be the only thing that Diet soda is reducing!

Eliminating healthy whole foods from your diet is not the goal, but to simply make you more informed and aware of the dental connection to the common food choices associated with dieting. Altering what you do after eating these foods, like rinsing your mouth with water to dilute the acid build-up, can help decrease the number on the scales while avoiding an increase in the number of cavities!

If you have any question or are in need of an appointment, call our office at 918-455-0123!

God Bless,
DRT

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