The Role of Diet in Dental Health: Popular Melbourne Foods That Can Impact Your Smile
To say that the food scene in Melbourne is insane would be an understatement; thanks to its diverse culture, the locality’s cuisine is something to salivate for. But as tasty as they are, you still have to be mindful, especially since the food you consume has a direct impact on all aspects of your well-being, including your dental and oral health. Here are a few popular Melbourne dishes that have a significant effect on your dental health.
Acidic food and drinks.
As a coastal city, Melbourne is known for their excellent seafood, but you can expect a lot of Chinese and Italian cooking in the mix. Among these cuisines, you can expect that spicy, savoury, tangy, and sweet mix of flavours. A common denominator among these cuisines is that they have acidic properties like chilis and tomatoes, which can contribute to your tooth getting stripped off of its protective enamel. Chinese stirfry almost always uses chilis, while Italian cooking is all about tomatoes; both ingredients are a danger to your teeth when consumed too much.
The locals also love their share of citrusy fruits, which can also wear out enamel if consumed in excess. There are warning signs of the said enamel being stripped down; the most obvious one is teeth sensitivity. Now that your tooth has a thinning, if not worn-out barrier, it’s exposed to many detrimental factors, like bacteria that eat away at your tooth, leading to cavities. What’s even more alarming about this is that not all of us have strong and sturdy teeth; some can be chipped easily, which warrants a visit to the emergency dentist Toorak so they can get you patched up ASAP.
Sugary goods and drinks.
With a wide range of sweets, who wouldn’t love a chocolate pastry or two? But let’s talk about beverages; coffee is also one of the staple drinks of the locals, along with sodas. Given how the weather’s been pretty hot lately, it’s not surprising to see the residents reaching for their iced coffees or sodas to quench their thirst under this hot and humid weather. Like the acidic substances in foods, locals also have to watch out for the sugar in these beverages. Not only does it erode your teeth, but the sugar also attracts bacteria and causes cavities.
You can still enjoy these delicious foods and beverages but try to limit them if you can. When drinking, start using straws to prevent the liquid from coming into contact with your teeth. Wine, coffee, tomatoes, and other coloured foods can easily stain your teeth. Make it a habit to have a good rinse after every meal to wash off the acids in your mouth.
To add, you can also have sugar-free gum to keep your breath fresh and stimulate saliva production to avoid dry mouth. If you want to learn more about oral hygiene practices, you can drop by the Toorak dentist’s office; they’re more than happy to help you learn more about maintaining optimal dental health. A lot of dental offices also take the time to explain to their patients the different types of dental care they need to exercise depending on the season. After all, seasonal changes affect your oral health with the way you develop habits and consume different cuisines. It’s only right that you also adjust your dental care according to the season.
Healthy food options for stronger teeth.
Being mindful about the food you consume will do your body great wonders, and thankfully, Melbourne residents are one of the most health-conscious citizens in the world. With their active lifestyle, they also take healthy living pretty seriously, starting with their home cooked meals. Here’s a short list of foods and drinks you should add to your diet for a healthy smile.
Water. Melbourne tap water underwent water fluoridation, altering its quality that makes it beneficial for the residents’ teeth. Thanks to the presence of fluoride, the locals have added protection to keep plaque and cavities at bay. Of course, this alone is not enough to keep your teeth all shiny and strong, so make it a habit to religiously do your dental care routine.
Apples and pears. They’re crunchy, tasty, and refreshing—apples and pears are two underrated snacks packed with mineral nutrients, which also benefit one’s teeth. As mentioned earlier, these fibrous fruits help clean your teeth of bacteria and encourage saliva production, which neutralises the remaining citric acids in your mouth.
Leafy green vegetables. Don’t forget to eat your greens! These vegetables are packed with a multitude of vitamins and minerals that are healthy for your gut and teeth. Like apples, these also help rid your mouth of acids that can erode your teeth.
Yogurt, milk, and cheese. Casein is a special kind of protein that helps strengthen tooth enamel, which is present in cheese. But that’s not all this dairy product can offer: cheese also has an impressive phosphate content, which helps balance the acid levels in your mouth, thus preserving the tooth enamel. Yogurt and milk are high in calcium, which is good for your teeth, while the former has probiotics that keep your gut healthy.
Whole grains. Many people tend to shy away from consuming grains since they’re known to get stuck on their teeth, but these food groups are the ideal snacks when you feel like munching on something. Because of their complex carbohydrates, bacteria struggle to attack them because they’re hard to digest. So with no food, the bacteria would have a hard time producing, leaving no room to terrorise your teeth.
Making the switch to healthier options can be hard at first, especially if you’re used to consuming sugar daily, but it is possible. Cavities tend to creep up slowly and surely, so rather than wait for a dental issue to happen, it’s much better to practice preventive care. Taking care of your teeth takes commitment, so if you don’t want to spend a large amount of money to get your teeth fixed later on in life, make the necessary adjustments starting now.