3 Diet Trends That Can Be Harmful for Your Smile

There always seems to be a new fad diet out there. Whether you are wanting to drop a few pounds or just be healthier overall, some of them can be quite effective. However, not all diets have the best effect on your oral health. Because of this, it is always important that you do your research before trying one out. Read on to learn about a few fad diets in particular that you should be especially careful of for the sake of your smile.

Multiple Smaller Meals

The majority of us typically have two or three meals a day, but this fad diet involves consuming six to eight meals each day in smaller quantities. This can help people to eat less fat, healthier carbs, and more fruits and vegetables. There are all sorts of different benefits that this can have on your overall health, but it can also put your teeth at risk. Your enamel is especially vulnerable for up to an hour after you eat something, so the more frequently you eat, the more likely you are to develop dental problems, like tooth decay.

Raw Foods

By sticking to a raw food diet, you can get all of the nutrients you need without eating any of those unhealthy preservatives that seem to be all over the place. However, this doesn’t mean that your body is completely free from harm. Fruits contain natural sugars that can cause tooth decay if you aren’t careful. Seeds and nuts can become stuck between the teeth and contribute to bacterial growth. Ultimately, you should choose plenty of foods that benefit your smile, like apples, carrots, and celery.

Juice Cleanses

This diet seems to make a lot of sense. Fruits and vegetables are good for you, so their juices are too, right? The problem is that if you are only drinking the juice, you are missing out on a lot of the fiber and nutrients that your body needs to keep your skin, hair, and nails in good health. You can even end up with the following dental issues:

• Enamel Erosion: Juice that contains a lot of sugar and acid, like soda, can cause your enamel to erode and leave you with weak, discolored teeth.
• Loss of Stability: With a low-calorie diet, your insulin levels are affected. When you’re on a juice cleanse for a long period of time, you could end up with issues related to your natural collagen that holds your teeth in place.
• Tooth Decay: Bacteria in the mouth feed off natural and artificial sugars. When you have a lot of sugar, which is present in juice, you are more likely to develop cavities.

If you are looking to make positive changes when it comes to what you eat, you should definitely be considering your oral health as well. A healthy diet should include a healthy smile!

About the Author

Dr. Stephanie Lacquaniti is an experienced dentist who has been working in the field for over a decade. She earned her dental doctorate from the University of Florida College of Dentistry and has remained committed to continuing education ever since. This includes courses at SPEAR Education and local study clubs throughout Lake County. She also attends the University of Florida Oral Pathology Symposium every two years and the FDC Annual Meeting yearly. For more information or to schedule an appointment at her office in Mount Dora, visit her website or call (352) 383-8121.