These days, everyone seems to be talking about the latest diet or health trend that’s been popularized by the Internet. However, as tempting as it might seem to hop on one of these bandwagons and shed a few pounds, believe it or not, many of these trends are actually quite harmful to your pearly whites to some degree! Keep reading to learn a little more about three popular diet trends that might spell bad news for your smile if you aren’t careful, along with some tips for staying healthy and keeping your teeth white and bright!
1. Juice Cleanses
At first glance, an all-juice diet seems like it would make a lot of sense. After all, fruits have essential vitamins and nutrients, and you add vegetables into the mix to create some ultra-healthy and smooth beverages. But only drinking juice in an effort to detoxify your digestive system is ill-advised, as it can cause oral health problems including enamel damage, excess bacteria, and even issues with the collagen fibers that hold your teeth in place.
According to experts, your digestive system doesn’t need to detoxify; instead of trying one of these unhealthy juice cleanses, implement a long-term diet plan that includes lots of fruits and vegetables in their whole form. Juice is still fine; just don’t base your whole diet around it.
2. Raw Food Diets
Many celebrities and actors have credited raw food diets as the reason for their weight control, but like juice cleanses, these trends can also ruin your teeth. Potential damage can occur from eating fruits with pits, nuts, and seeds, and they can also become stuck between teeth. High-sugar fruits and other items can also lead to tooth decay, gum disease, and other issues, especially if poor oral hygiene is another compounded factor.
Raw foods like almonds, apples, and spinach can be great for managing your weight and keeping a healthy smile, so long as you practice moderation and keep up with brushing and flossing.
3. Frequent, Smaller Meals
Another popular trend these days is rather than eating three square meals every day, people instead opt to take several small meals throughout the day—sometimes even as many as 8! These meals tend to have less fat and include more carbs, fruits, and veggies. However, the main issue with this “grazing” approach is that your teeth are vulnerable to damage for up to an hour after you eat, meaning that if you eat more often throughout the day, your teeth are at a heightened risk for enamel wear, tooth decay, and other issues.
Instead of taking this approach, you should opt for eating three healthy meals every day and implementing a consistent oral hygiene regimen. The more often you eat, the more often you should clean your teeth!
In addition to striving to make healthy dietary choices, you should also visit your dentist for routine preventive care; they’ll be able to ensure that no matter what you’re fueling up with, your teeth are in a healthy state.
About the Practice
Our talented team here at Winthrop Street Dentistry has proudly served the dental needs of patients and families in the Worcester, MA community for several years, offering a wide range of preventive, restorative, and cosmetic treatment options. If you have any questions or concerns about the blog, or you’d like to get in touch with us to schedule your next visit, feel free to visit our website or call us today for assistance! Telephone: (508) 593-1261.
