Most of us go on diets to try and maintain a healthy weight or to fit into a smaller pair of pants. Whatever your reason for dieting, it’s important to find an eating plan that will help you manage your weight with very few negative side effects. Unfortunately, there are quite a few fad diets out there that can have disastrous effects on your oral health. Here are three examples of ones you should avoid.
1. Juice Cleanses
You’d think an all-juice diet, especially juices from fruits and vegetables, would be healthy, right? In actuality, frequent juice consumption weakens your enamel and leaves stains on your teeth. The high sugar content in fruit juices especially is rich in acid and sugar, which erodes your enamel and promotes bacterial growth that leads to tooth decay and gum disease.
According to leading nutrition experts, you don’t actually need to “detoxify” your system with a juice cleanse. Instead of juicing, try to consume enough fruits and veggies in their raw form for optimal oral health. If you’re going to do a cleanse for a couple of days, drink your juice through a straw to minimize direct contact with your teeth.
2. Small Meals
Many celebrities swear by the method of eating six to eight smaller meals throughout the day instead of three large ones. While these “grazers” tend to have a lower body fat percentage, they might be wreaking havoc on their teeth.
It’s important to note, though, that your teeth are susceptible to damage from bacteria up to an hour after eating. Thus, the more often you eat during the day, the more vulnerable your teeth are. Even if you’re frequently consuming healthy snacks, it could still harm your enamel.
Eating several healthy snacks throughout the day might be a great way to manage your weight, but you should work to make it mouth-healthy too. Brush your teeth half an hour after every one of your “meals” to combat tooth decay. If you want to clean your mouth right after eating, then swish some water or mouthwash around in your mouth.
3. Raw Food Diets
Raw food diets sound healthy because they allow you to get all the nutrients from your food without any of the added chemicals. However, the sugar in fruits has a high potential for causing tooth decay. Additionally, nuts and seeds can get stuck in your teeth, attracting dangerous bacteria.
To counteract this damage, be sure to clean your mouth out after eating. Brush your teeth, use dental floss, and/or rinse your mouth out with antibacterial mouthwash.
No matter what the reason is behind your diet, make sure that the foods you eat benefit your whole body, not just your waistline.
About the Author
Dr. Miguel Casanas, Jr. is a dentist in Plainview, NY who graduated with his Doctor of Dental Surgery degree from the State University of Stony Brook. As a member of the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry, he understands the importance of being confident in your appearance. If you need help finding a diet that’s also beneficial to your oral health, you can contact Dr. Casanas’ practice at (516) 346-5655.