Most of us are no strangers to the phrase, “you are what you eat,” but what we may not realize is that you are also how you eat. While getting in whole grains, fruits, and vegetables remains important, those looking to clean up their eating habits should also pay particular attention to how their teeth affect their consumption and portion control. At Honolulu, HI’s Pediatric Dental Group, which provides comprehensive dental care, from orthodontics to teeth whitening services, the dentistry team explains 3 ways in which your teeth can determine the fate of your waistline:

Get Chewing 

Maybe mom’s rule of chewing 100 times before swallowing is going a bit overboard, but she had the right idea. Chewing your food properly slows down the eating process. Scarfing down your meal or snack doesn’t leave you time to realize you are full. The more leisurely pace of chewing can help you hone in on your hunger and fullness signals. Additionally, chewing properly allows your teeth to break down food better, which improves digestion.

Downsize Your Bites 

There’s a twofold approach to downsizing your meal. First, you can start with a smaller plate. Serving yourself a meal on a salad plate instead of a dinner plate automatically forces you to cut down on your portion size and you may realize that the serving is satisfying enough without needing seconds. Second, take smaller bites of your food. Like chewing slowly, smaller bites may allow you to become fuller faster.

Avoid Distractions

As you use your teeth to chew smaller bites slowly, make sure that you’re not surrounded by distractions. Take a moment to turn off the TV, put your smartphone away, and really enjoy your meal. Not only does being more aware of your food help you exercise better chewing habits and make smarter decisions about portion sizes, it may also help you find new food preferences that you never noticed before. 

The next time you’re looking to eat cleaner or drop a few pounds, keep your dental care in mind! For more dental care tips, or to make an appointment for dental implants, orthodontics or other dentistry services, contact Pediatric Dental Group at (808) 593-8828 or visit their website.