When you head to the dentist for your regular checkup, you might start wondering whether you’ve brushed and flossed enough to avoid cavities. However, the foods and drinks you enjoy could have an even greater impact on your dental health. To pass your next dentist visit with flying colors, use the following guide to learn how to optimize your diet for good dental health.

What Happens to Your Mouth When You Eat Poorly?

It’s hard to give up refined sugars and processed carbohydrates completely, but consuming them too frequently has a direct impact on the health of your smile. For example, when you enjoy sweetened beverages like soda, chocolate milk, and some iced teas, the excess sugar swirls around your teeth, coating the enamel and sticking to other food scraps. The bacteria that are naturally present on your gums, tongue, and teeth feed on the sugars. Unfortunately, acid is a byproduct of this process. This abrasive substance eats away at the protective enamel lining your smile, causing cavities and gum erosion. This process is compounded by other foods as well, such as carbohydrates, which turn into sugar.

What Foods Should I Eat to Improve My Oral Health?

If you want to have fewer cavities and avoid root canals and gum disease, alter your diet as necessary to fit this goal. If you enjoy soda, start by cutting back on this sugary drink. Limit your consumption of sweetened teas. Use less sugar when cooking and baking, and consider drinking your coffee black or with milk.

Instead of turning to pretzels and cookies during snack time, pack natural and non-processed alternatives like carrot sticks, leafy greens, or almonds. In addition to cutting back on sugar and increasing your intake of teeth-strengthening vitamins and minerals, many of these foods naturally clean teeth as you chew them. Choose dairy items like milk, yogurt, and cheese when possible, since these foods contain calcium and protein to fortify your teeth and bones. However, make sure to avoid yogurt with significant amounts of sugar, or you could end up sabotaging your healthy efforts.

If you’re eager to improve your oral health and want some professional guidance, Jeffrey E. Bang, DMD, PC is here to help. Located in Staunton, VA, this dentist recognizes the importance of nutrition in maintaining your smile, but he can also help restore past damage with tried-and-true techniques. To learn more about his services, including teeth cleaning, bridges, and dental implants, or to schedule an appointment, call (540) 885-8667.