You already know that eating healthily is likely to help you lose weight, feel more energetic, and can even help you improve your lifespan. But, did you know that nutrition has a direct impact on oral health and that these three things are intrinsically connected?
Understanding Nutrition
In order to survive you need to eat food and drink water. The average human can go three days without water and three weeks without food. But, it’s not just about eating, you need to consider what is in the food. Your body needs a certain amount of minerals and nutrients daily to flourish. It generally gets the nutrients you need from the food you eat. However, it is possible to use supplements to ensure your body is getting everything it needs.
There are six major categories of nutrients:
- Carbohydrates
- Proteins
- Vitamins
- Minerals
- Fats – vegetable fats are generally considered better for the human body.
- Water
It’s unusual to get one nutrient category only in a food source, that’s why you eat different things in an attempt to get the right amount of nutrients in your body.
How Nutrition Helps Oral Health
Your teeth are surprisingly strong. In fact, their enamel coating is the strongest substance in the human body. But, they can still be attacked. Sugars and bacteria in your mouth react to create acids that attack your teeth. When they break through the enamel you’ll get a cavity that can lead to more severe issues, such as abscesses and even tooth loss.
It’s essential to see a reputable Erskineville dentist to prevent this from happening.
The sugar in your diet is directly linked to the health of your teeth. Cutting down foods and drinks high in sugars will help to protect your oral health. That means you’re less likely to need dental work and more likely to keep your teeth into old age.
The Effect On Overall Health
What may surprise you is that oral health is connected to overall health. The plaque that builds up in your mouth as a result of sugar and bacteria interacting, can actually get into your bloodstream. This increases the chances of blood vessels becoming blocked.
Nutrition also affects your energy levels and, if you eat too much high sugar and high-fat foods you’re likely to start gaining weight. This can be a vicious circle that is hard to get out of. Of course, carrying excess weight will increase the risk of contracting an array of age-related diseases, including cardiovascular issues and diabetes.
Final Thoughts
You need to think about the foods you’re putting into your body as they affect the health of your teeth and the rest of your body. It’s easy to eat the wrong foods as they are constantly being offered to us. But, it can be much harder to rectify the damage caused to your oral and overall health. That’s why you should learn about nutrition today and start changing your eating habits.