Three Food And Beverage Items Those With Periodontal Disease Or At Risk Of It Should Avoid

If you've recently been diagnosed with periodontal disease or informed by your oral care professional that you're at risk for developing this condition, you've probably already discussed an oral care regime with your dentist and made plans to begin implementing it as soon as possible. However, keep in mind that what you choose to eat has a direct bearing on the overall health of your gums as well as your teeth. You probably already know that you shouldn't suck on sugary hard candies or drink sugary sodas, but you may be unaware of other dietary culprits that those with periodontal disease or in danger of developing it should avoid. Following are three of them. 

Foods That Are High in Acid

Acidic foods have a tendency to eat away at your tooth enamel, which can exacerbate periodontal disease or cause conditions conducive to its onset. Foods and beverages to avoid include coffee, citrus, tomatoes, cucumbers, and adult beverages such as beer, wine, and cocktails. However, there's a way around this for those food and drink items you don't want to try to live without, such as your favorite tomato soup, morning glass of orange juice, or after dinner glass of good red wine — use a straw, and they won't come into much contact with your teeth and gums. 

To further help preserve and possibly even restore the enamel on your teeth, ask your dentist to recommend some enamel-building products such as toothpastes and mouthwashes. 

Refined Carbohydrates

The problem with refined carbohydrates such as pasta, bread, muffins, pastries, sodas, breakfast cereals with added sugar, and snacks like chips is that they tend to get stuck between the teeth very easily — and this can result in the development of bacteria that lead to infections of the gums. Processed starches also begin to convert to sugars almost immediately after they are eaten. As an added bonus, your overall health may improve if you restrict your dietary intake of processed carbohydrates. 

Anything Overly Chewy or Sticky

You might think that a granola bar is a healthy choice for breakfast or a snack, but chances are it's relatively chewy as well as sticky, especially if it's made with honey. Other examples of chewy or sticky foods include barbecue sauce and ketchup — they're thick and stick to your teeth, and they also include high amounts of acid. Dried fruit is another culprit that may seem like a perfectly healthy snack choice, but its sticky enough so that small fragments tend to stick in tiny crevices in the teeth.

For more information, visit websites like http://www.thefamilydentist-lakeland.com. 


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