Braces versus Retainers: A Comprehensive Overveiw

5 Ways to Have Your Fruit and Eat It…. Without Damaging Your Dental Health

30 August 2016 by Lonnie Bryant

Many people think of fruit as a healthy food, but unfortunately it contains a lot of sugar. This sugar encourages bacteria to multiply in your mouth, which could lead to dental decay. Some types of fruit are much more likely to cause dental decay than others, while other types could even protect your dental health. Here are five tips for including fruit in your diet without damaging your teeth.

1. Limit Fruit Juice

Fruit juices, such as orange or grape juice, contain plenty of vitamin C, but they are also high in sugar. As this sugar is not combined with fibre, like it is in fresh fruit, it provides a readily available source of food for oral bacteria. In addition, fruit juice contains acids that can weaken tooth enamel. You can enjoy fruit juice occasionally, but stick to water as your daily drink of choice.

2. Avoid Dried Fruit

Dried fruit is not only high in sugar, but also sticky, which means it can stick in your back teeth. Don't assume that dried fruit is a healthy food; instead, treat it as an occasional treat.

3. Eat Whole Fruit

The good news is that whole fruit isn't harmful for your teeth. In fact, it could even be good for them. Studies show that people who eat plenty of fresh fruit have fewer cavities than those who don't. Whole fruit contains fibre, which locks up the sugars so they are less available for oral bacteria to eat. This fiber could also scrub stains away from your teeth, helping them to appear whiter. Enjoy an apple a day to keep the dentist away!

4. Be Careful When You Brush

After learning that fruit juice and dried fruit can be bad for your teeth, you might be tempted to dash into the bathroom to brush your teeth immediately after consuming them. However, brushing your teeth immediately after eating can damage tooth enamel, which softens slightly after you eat acidic foods. You can either brush your teeth before you enjoy your morning glass of orange juice, or wait 30 minutes after drinking it to brush your teeth. While you wait, drink water to rinse the fruit acids away from your teeth.

5. Enjoy Balance

A healthy diet contains fresh, whole fruits, as well as vegetables, protein, whole grains, dairy and healthy fats. Eat a mixture of all these foods to ensure your body gets the nutrients it needs to develop healthy teeth.

Contact a local dentist for more advice.

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