‘Teeth are always in style’, says Dr Seuss. And while we may take our gnashers for granted, the children’s author has a great point about the importance of teeth and oral health in general.
Afterall, our teeth help us to munch our favourite foods, speak with the people we love and even structure our face. And let’s not forget that a healthy smile can boost our confidence and improve our wellbeing.
As young people we’re taught to brush our teeth twice a day, and as adults we learn that flossing can help us to maintain a radiant smile. But did you know our diet is equally important when it comes to keeping our oral health in tip-top condition?
For this year’s National Smile Month, we’re looking at the connection between diet and oral health.
The theme for this year’s event is Feed Your Smile. So, from now to 12 June we’re celebrating the event by exploring how our diet can ensure our smile is as perfect as we’d like it to be.
Feeding your smile
We all lead busy and demanding lives, so when we get the urge to eat it’s easy to reach for the quickest and simplest option. But have you ever thought about the effect the things you eat and drink have on your teeth and gum health?
We all know ‘that’ feeling when our belly rumbles to tell us it’s time for lunch, dinner or even a snack. Equally, our daily routine might include a strong-black coffee to spark us into action in the morning, and a glass of something alcoholic (such as wine) to relax us in the evening.
But ingesting these sugary and acidic foods and drinks mean that we expose our teeth to acids that can weaken enamel (the protective shield on our teeth).
So, when it comes to satisfying our appetite it’s worth thinking about our teeth and gums. Small changes in our diet can have long-lasting benefits. For example, grabbing a piece of crunchy fruit or veg instead of chocolate can make a huge difference in maintaining a healthy smile and good oral hygiene. And it’s just a quick and easy when those hunger-pangs arrive.
Keeping with the ‘Feed Your Smile’ theme, we’ve put together some top tips to help ensure you have strong, bright teeth and gorgeous gums for a long time. The dietary ‘dos’ include:
- eating more dairy products, fish and leafy greens can strengthen enamel and protect against erosion due to their calcium and phosphorus content
- adding citrus fruits, bell peppers, strawberries, and broccoli to your diet to help you consume more vitamin C, which supports gum health
- drinking more fluoridated water as it helps rinse away food particles and neutralise acids as well as strengthening enamel and preventing cavities.
By making smart food choices and prioritising key nutrients, you can keep your teeth strong, your gums healthy, and your smile shining.
There’s more information about the which foods to eat for healthy teeth and gums on the Oral Health Foundation’s website.
Snacking the smart way
Many of us will reach for sugary snacks like a biscuit when our mid-morning energy levels drop, or a cold fizzy drink to quench our thirst on a hot, sunny day. And while there’s nothing wrong with that, we all know about the affects these so called ‘bad’ foods and drinks can have on our teeth.
As we’ve seen, adding dairy products into your daily diet or swapping sugary snacks for crunchy, healthy alternatives is a great way to keep hunger at bay, while ensuring we have strong, bright teeth and great oral health.
By choosing the right snacks we can reduce the risk of decay, strengthen enamel, keep our breath fresh and our gums healthy.
Some great tips for snacking include:
- swapping biscuits for nuts and seeds, which are low in sugar and have tooth-friendly minerals such as calcium and phosphorous
- choosing water instead of fizzy drinks, swap pastries for cheese cubes, and pick Greek yoghurt rather than ice cream
- pick crunchy foods such as apples, carrots, celery, nuts, and whole grains that stimulate saliva production, which naturally cleans teeth
- leaving the chocolate and grabbing apple slices and nut butter, which is lower in sugar and can curb hunger cravings.
Remember, snacking doesn’t have to be bad for your teeth. Check out the Oral Health Foundation’s guide to the best foods for a brighter, stronger smile.
Bitesize tips for children
Many of us will have faced the ‘battle of the brush’ with our children.
Maybe your child finds ‘brush-time’ the perfect time to start a conversation with their siblings. Your child might complain the toothpaste is ‘too spicy’ and ask for one that ‘doesn’t fizz like fireworks!’ It could be they squeeze half the tube onto their toothbrush and then get upset when there’s ‘too many bubbles’ in their mouth.
If this sounds like your morning and evening routine, don’t panic. We’ve some fantastic tips on how to combat this daily task and ease the tension in our fight to ensure the young people in our lives maintain their healthy, happy smiles.
Tips include:
- using a flavourless or non-foaming toothpaste to minimise sensory overload
- use a visual aid such as an app to time your child’s brushing
- don’t overdo the toothpaste – a rice grain amount can be enough for under 3s
- and of course, visit your dentist regularly – prevention is better than cure.
For more great tips and hints read our looking after your child’s teeth article on YES.
Getting NHS care
If you need dental support, NHS Sussex is a good place to start. It recently made more urgent dental care appointments avilable, including same-day urgent care appointments. It also offers courses of treatment, reducing the need for recurring visits.
The appointments are available across East Sussex, including: Eastbourne, Hastings, Lewes, Rother, and Wealden.
People in need of urgent dental care, but who don’t have a regular dentist, can access the service by calling the Sussex Dental Helpline on 0300 123 1663 or emailing kcht.dentalhelpdesk@nhs.net.
Read more about additional appointments for urgent dental care in Sussex and about NHS dentistry in Sussex, including where to find a dentist, on the NHS website.
