The Dental Diet

Prebiotics and Probiotics are essential for keeping the microbiome in the mouth healthy and balanced. Add some fermented foods such kimchi, miso, or sauerkraut to your diet to help feed good gut bacteria. In addition, make sure you are getting enough fiber every day (approximately 30g). Foods like raspberries, beans, or almonds might already be in your diet, but adding in some lesser-consumed foods like split peas or chia seeds could help you hit your daily goal consistently.

We have talked before about gingivitis, severe inflammation of the gums, and we have some foods to recommend to stop the disease in its tracks. One important macronutrient that you can add to stop inflammation is Omega-3 fats, common found in salmon, tuna, or fish oil supplements. Another quick trick to reduce inflammation is green tea. Drinking a cup (or pot!) of this superfood not only decreases inflammation, but also restores Ph balance to your mouth.

Finally, a quick word on sugars. It turns out that eating a large amount of sugar infrequently is less harmful than eating a moderate amount of sugar every day. A good rule of thumb set forth by the World Health Organization is to limit your sugar intake to less than 10% of your total daily calories. You can replace traditional sugars with artificial Splenda or Equal, since they don’t promote cavities.

If you have any other questions about diets for total body health and dental health, schedule an appointment with Golden Dental Wellness Center at (516) 627-8400.