Throughout history, people have experimented with dieting techniques to achieve the “perfect” figure. This is a trend that continues to thrive; it’s currently estimated that 23% of Aussies follow some kind of diet.
Some diets – while effective – unfortunately place oral health at risk. While diet fads come and go, one thing remains true: it is extremely important to protect the health of your teeth and gums.
Today, we’re breaking down everything you need to know about some of the most popular trending diets – specifically, how they can negatively affect your oral health.
Table of Contents
Juicing and Liquid Diets
While fruit and vegetable juices may prove to be beneficial for shedding unwanted weight and providing the body with valuable nutrients, one key element is missing: chewing.
The act of chewing stimulates saliva production. Inside the mouth, saliva acts as a natural lubricant and barrier against harmful acids, sugars, and bacterias. It also helps maintain a healthy pH within the mouth, as well.
Without a sufficient amount of saliva inside the mouth, the teeth face an increased risk of developing decay or damage.
What’s more, is that crunchy fruits and vegetables actually help clean the surface of the teeth while you chew them. This is just another example of mother nature’s tendency for rewarding you for eating healthy!
There’s certainly a notable amount of benefits to be enjoyed from increasing your fruit and vegetable intake; simply be sure to keep them in solid form and chew them rather than juicing!
If you insist of following this type of diet, we highly recommend brushing after you have enjoyed your beverage – just be sure to wait about an hour before brushing, as brushing right away may actually cause more damage to the enamel. Rinsing your mouth out with water after you finish drinking may help, as well.
Lemon Detox Diet
The infamous “lemon detox diet” requires consuming a lemon juice mixture for 1-2 weeks – no solid food whatsoever.
Ultimately, this outlandish trend is intended to rid the body of harmful toxins, improve energy levels, encourage digestion, and help promote weight loss.
Whether this diet trend truly works is yet to be officially determined, but there is one thing that is certain: constant exposure to such an acidic beverage places the teeth at a significant risk of enamel erosion and decay.
Here’s the kicker: if you choose to brush your teeth directly after consuming a lemon juice beverage, your teeth actually face a higher risk of decay — the harmful and acidic effects are actually worsened.
As your oral care professionals, we are obligated to suggest that you avoid this fad diet. In the case that you do choose to try it out, we suggest using a straw to limit the liquid’s contact with your teeth. We also highly recommend washing your mouth out with water after you have finished the beverage to help neutralize the acidity inside the mouth, and brushing thoroughly about an hour afterwards.
Small Meals
Some dieting experts swear that rather than eating two or three large meals throughout the day, eating multiple small meals (usually 6-8) throughout the day can help with weight loss.
The general idea behind this is that keeping the digestive system constantly working aids in quick and responsive metabolism and keeps the body full on healthy snacks and foods.
So, how can this diet method pose a risk to the health of your teeth? The truth is that in the hour after you eat, your tooth enamel is especially vulnerable to damage or decay. Consequently, the more frequently you eat, the higher the risk of cavities.
Rather than eating small meals over the course of the day, you can simplify things by making sure that you are eating healthy and low-calorie meals as usual.
Raw Food Diet
Foods that are allowed under a raw food diet include greens, nuts, fruits, vegetables, and a few different types of grains – basically, anything that does not have to be cooked or heated up to eat.
The basic principle behind this diet trend is the belief that heating or cooking food actually destroys the natural enzymes and the nutrients that it has to offer the body. This trend is also praised for helping to avoid unhealthy preservatives or chemicals.
While there are certainly many benefits to enjoy from a healthy diet full of raw foods, there are a few things to consider:
- Nuts and grains may stick to the teeth and lead to an increased risk of cavities
- When consumed in high amounts, the sugar content in fruits may pose a risk for the development of decay
- Avoiding animal products means that you will have to compensate and find other ways to get vitamin B-12, vitamin D, calcium and zinc – all of which are important for the health of both the teeth and gum tissues
- Chewing hard nuts on a regular basis May place the teeth at an increased risk of chipping or sustaining damage
If you choose to try this diet, it is important to ensure that you are regularly flossing and brushing to remove nuts or grains that may be trapped in the teeth. To replace the vitamins and other nutrients that you may be missing out on, think about adding flaxseed, spinach, or chia seeds.
Vegan and Vegetarian Diet
While there are usually good intentions behind starting a vegetarian or vegan diet, these types of diets may potentially lead to deficiencies in nutrients and vitamins such as vitamin B12, vitamin D, calcium, and protein.
These deficiencies have the potential to increase the risk of tooth decay and periodontal disease. The enamel faces the risk of becoming soft and weak. Deficiencies of vitamin B, specifically, may lead to an increased risk of oral ulcers.
If you choose to follow a vegetarian or vegan diet, we recommend increasing your intake of plant milks and soy products. You may also want to consider taking vitamins to fortify your diet.
Diet Pills
While diet pills may prove to be effective for weight loss , they tend to cause dry mouth. At first, this may seem like an inconsequential side effect, but dry mouth is actually quite serious.
Known clinically as xerostomia, dry mouth has the potential to lead to a significantly increased risk of damage or decay. Dry mouth also tends to lead to an increased risk of gingivitis – the first stage of gum disease.
As previously mentioned, saliva acts as a natural neutralizer inside the mouth, balancing out the pH and general acidity.
Without the help of saliva to keep the inside of the mouth lubricated, you may likely face an increased risk or developing cavities.
Keto Diet
The ever-popular keto diet is a high-fat and low carb diet that pushes the body into ketosis, during which it burns stored fat for energy rather than carbohydrates.
While the keto diet has proven to be exceptional for helping people shed extra unwanted weight, it has also been examined to cause bad breath. This condition, known commonly as “Keto breath” is simply one of the body’s natural reactions to being in ketosis, and unfortunately can not typically be combated with brushing or flossing.
To avoid this, we recommend not completely cutting carbs from your diet. Enjoying bread or pasta every now and then can help prevent Keto breath while simultaneously fueling the body.
The keto diet has also been examined to reduce the intake of important vitamins such as C,A, and K. A decrease in folate can be expected, as well. The loss of these vitamins and minerals can pose a serious risk to the health of the teeth.
In addition to increasing carbohydrate intake just a bit, we recommend eating less protein and opting instead for nuts or avocados to help get the vitamins you need.
Low Carb
Low carb diets (like Paleo or Atkins) can be useful, but they tend to pose two major issues: dry mouth and bad breath.
While low carb diets can help avoid cavities by eliminating various different foods that tend to lead to tooth decay, it is important to keep in mind that dry mouth can be just as dangerous for the health of the teeth.
In the event that you choose to follow a low carb diet to lose weight, we highly recommend chewing xylitol or sugar-free gum, drinking lots of water, and using an alcohol-free mouthwash. You may also want to ask about a prescription-strength mouthwash that is specifically designed to treat dry mouth.
Bad breath can be experienced due to a release of chemicals as the body breaks down fat. In many cases, this is unavoidable if you’re following a strict no carb diet. To combat bad breath, consider incorporating a small amount of carbohydrates into your diet.
Meal Replacements
Some diet trends stress the use of meal replacement snacks. This method can be effective, but meal replacement snacks tend to be quite high in sugars or salts to compensate for the lack of fat.
High salt and sugar content can be damaging to the teeth. Not only this, but as previously mentioned, snacking frequently throughout the day may actually increase your risk of tooth decay.
Rather than opting for pre-made meal replacements, think about making low-calorie meals for yourself at home. This puts you in control and allows you to ensure that the salt and sugar levels are under control.
Protect Your Teeth
If you’re interested trying out the latest and craziest diet fad to shed some pesky extra weight, it is incredibly important to make sure that you are protecting and properly caring for your teeth while you do so.
In order to do this, you can take the following steps:
- Brush and floss twice daily for two minutes (it is ideal to brush or floss after you have eaten something that may become stuck in the teeth, such as nuts)
- Chew sugarless gum/xylitol gum
- Maintain a tooth-friendly diet that is rich in vitamins and nutrients
- Use a straw when drinking acidic beverages
- Stay hydrated by drinking plenty of water
- Avoid mouthwashes with alcohol
- Make sure that you attend your dental cleaning and check-up appointments
When it comes to fortifying your diet with specific vitamin supplements or foods, be sure to speak with your trusted physician. He or she will be able to best assist you in designing a healthy and safe diet that supports not only your oral health, but your overall health as well.
FY Smile: Best Dentist in Sydney
With the information you have learned in this dental blog, you should have a better understanding of why you may want to think twice before following the latest dieting trend, and what you can do to protect your teeth if you do decide to go through with dieting.
Here at FY Smile, we strive to provide our patients with an unparalleled level of dental care; that is why we are proud to offer comprehensive dental and orthodontic treatment in beautiful Sydney.
Whether you are interested in dental veneers, Invisalign, traditional braces, a complete smile makeover, or a simple dental cleaning, you are in good hands. Our team of caring dental professionals is here to provide the treatment you need to create the beautiful and healthy smile that you have always dreamt of.
Your journey towards optimal dental health begins here. FY Smile is proud to offer a wide range of dental services. From basic tooth fillings to dental implants to deep cleanings and more, we’ve got you covered.
For more information about the best dentist in Sydney or to get scheduled in our Double Bay dental clinic, feel free to give us a call anytime at 02 8319 5557 .
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