What impact do common FAD diets have on your oral health?

Our body is quite the complex machine. If your New Year’s resolution consists of trying to lose some weight, be aware that some diets may have a negative effect on your oral health. Read on to find out the effects of the most popular diets out there...

The ‘Low-fat’ diet

The well-known low-fat diet can interfere with the absorption of fat-soluble vitamins, such as A, D, E and K. Vitamin D helps the body absorb calcium so this is especially important for oral health. Low-fat foods generally have a large amount of sugar in them. When your body can’t absorb calcium, your teeth and bones start to break down. What’s more, low calorie diets, (if too extreme) can cause malnutrition leading to an increased chance of periodontal disease or cavities.This sounds unlikely but can happen if dieting goes too far.

Cutting calories may be an effective way to lose weight, but for your mouth it can mean a weakened jawbone, softened enamel and deficient gums.

Low-carb and ketogenic diets

When you’re on a low- or no-carb diet, one way you can tell it’s working is if your breath starts to smell acidic, like nail polish remover. The unique scent of acetone is a strong sign of ketosis. This is the process where your body begins to burn fat instead of carbohydrates for fuel, releasing chemicals called ketones.

Not surprisingly, though, the most effective way to freshen your breath again is by eating carbs. And that may not be a bad idea, considering high levels of ketones can induce ketoacidosis, an illness in which your blood levels grow dangerously acidic. An overload of ketones can also make your body start to burn muscle instead of fat, cause intense fatigue and even damage your heart.

Diet Pills and Diet teas

Last but not least, diet pills can cause dry mouth, which leads to an increased risk of tooth decay. Not only does it contain cavity-fighting chemicals, it also helps physically wash away food and bacteria. With a drier mouth, you’re more susceptible to tooth decay and gum disease.

A recent study has shown that those who drank fruit teas had a high rate of enamel erosion on their teeth. Whilst some other problems such as staining were avoided, any damage to the enamel is potentially serious and may lead to decay and even root canal problems.

What to eat to lose weight and to protect your teeth

Today’s nutritional approaches to oral health go beyond dieting. Ongoing research indicates that antioxidants and other nutrients found in food have distinct effects on the mouth’s ability to handle cavity-causing bacteria attacks.

• Calcium-fortified juices, milk and other dairy products are rich in calcium and vitamin D and help promote healthy teeth and bones, reducing the risk for tooth loss.
• Cheese unleashes a burst of calcium that mixes with plaque and sticks to the teeth, protecting them from the acid that causes decay and helping to rebuild tooth enamel on the spot.
• Vegetables and fruit such as celery, carrots and apples, help clean plaque from teeth and freshen breath. Crisp fruits and raw vegetables, like apples, carrots and celery, help clean plaque from teeth and freshen breath.
• Antioxidant vitamins, such as vitamin C, help protect gums and other tissues from cell damage and bacterial infection, not to mention the key role vitamin C plays in collagen production. When vitamin C levels are low, a skin condition known as keratosis pilaris can develop.

When it comes to good oral health, timing is everything. The body produces extra saliva to help break down larger meals, which washes away more food. It would be safe to say that we should leave the snacking of sugar, carbohydrate-rich or acidic foods to meal times. This will prevent daily acid attacks on tooth enamel!

Protect your teeth with Floe

Floe oral care can be a strong ally in preventing damage to your teeth and offer help protecting your teeth from dieting. Fluoride concentration of 1490ppm is included in each toothpaste which can strengthen tooth enamel - especially important if you’ve experienced tooth erosion or frequent cavities. Our evening toothpaste also contains a high concentration of nano-Hydroxyapatite (nHA), a naturally occurring mineral and the main ingredient of teeth and bone.

And that’s where Floe’s oral care subscription box comes in. The subscription box is designed to break bad oral health habits and create strong ones by helping you form a better routine.

Routine is the foundation of any positive change. By providing the quality tools you need for a healthier mouth, Floe will make sure you see the benefits of small improvements to your oral health that will go on to long-lasting and noticeable change.

Every 3 months , we’ll send you:

• A new Curaprox toothbrush - so you don’t have to remember to replace it.
• Dawn whitening and Dusk anti-cavity fluoride toothpastes.
• Activated charcoal floss - to clear plaque where the brush can’t reach.

Diets may have a negative impact on our oral health, but we can all counteract this by boosting our oral care routine!