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Your dental health is directly associated with your diet. A diet high in refined sugars and processed foods causes various dental diseases. A diet low in sugars and processed foods and high in whole foods can significantly improve oral health.

Oral health impacts your well being, quality of life and self esteem. Therefore, it is important to have good oral health. Scientific studies over the past few years have found that the consumption of refined sugars and processed food is the main cause of cavities and dental disease. Studies have found that countries that have a high intake of sugar have high levels of dental decay while those with a low consumption of sugar have low levels of dental decay.

It has been found that when children reduce the amount of dietary sugar, their dental health improves significantly. A Brazilian study found that when nurseries followed dietary guidelines to provide a low sugar diet to their attending children, there was an 80% reduction in the dental decay.

A wonderful and inspiring story comes from Hopewood House children's home in New South Wales, Australia, in the decades of 1950s and 1960s. Children living in Hopewood ate a diet that was low in sugars and refined flour. Their oral hygiene was virtually absent and fluoride exposure was low. Upon examination it was found that 46% of 12-year-olds in Hopewood House had no tooth decay as compared to only 1% tooth decay free children from state schools. Hopewood children had superior teeth.

If you want to have better teeth, avoid the following foods:

• Ice cream, cake, candies, chocolates and other confectionaries.
• Processed food made with refined white flour such as white bread, biscuits, pizza and pasta.
• Soda, sweet beverages & fruit juices with added sugar.

Healthy diet for healthy teeth and gums includes:

• Whole fruits
• Vegetables
• Whole grains and sprouts
• Nuts and seeds

Sweets made with natural sugar alternatives are better for the teeth. Some healthy natural alternatives are: Honey, Jaggery (wholesome & concentrated sugarcane juice), Raisins, Dates, Maple Sugar and Sugarcane juice.

References

1. Sheiham A. Sucrose and dental caries. Nutrition and Health. 1987;5(1-2):25-9.
2. Moynihan P., et al. Diet, nutrition and the prevention of dental diseases. Public Health Nutrition. 2004 Feb;7(1A):201-26.
3. Akpata ES., et al. Dental caries, sugar consumption and restorative dental care in12-13-year-old children in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Community Dentistry and Oral Epidemiology. May 2006;20(6):343-346.
4. Rodrigues CS., et al. Effects of dietary guidelines on sugar intake and dental caries in 3-year-olds attending nurseries in Brazil. Health Promotion International. December 1999;14(4):329-335.
5. Harris R. Biology of the children of Hopewood House, Bowral, Australia, 4. Observations on dental caries experience extending over 5 years (1957-61). Journal of Dental Research 1963;42:1387-99.

Warning: The reader of this article should exercise all precautionary measures while following instructions on the home remedies from this article. Avoid using any of these products if you are allergic to it. The responsibility lies with the reader and not with the site or the writer.