How a Healthy Diet is Important for my Oral Health

Every time you eat or drink anything sugary, your teeth are under acid attack for up to one hour. This is because the sugar will react with the bacteria in plaque (the sticky coating on your teeth) and produce harmful acids.

There are simple steps you can take to make sure your diet does not affect your oral health:

• Eat sugary foods after a main meal, not as a snack. This reduces the number of instances your mouth is under an acid attack throughout the day.
• For something to eat between meal times choose sugar-free snacks such as vegetables, cheese, and savoury biscuits.
• Drink plenty of water, which helps to wash away food debris.
• Limit fizzy drinks and fruit juices which are highly acidic and can cause tooth erosion. Opt for still water, tea and coffee(without sugar) instead
•  When consuming fizzy drinks and fruit juices using a straw can lower teeth exposure to these acids.
• Chew sugar-free gum after meal times to aid salivary flow.
• Always wait at least 30 minutes after eating before brushing your teeth.