Considering the transition to a plant-based lifestyle? Some people wonder whether a vegan diet can have negative impacts on their teeth. Removing certain foods in your diet can significantly affect your overall wellbeing, including your teeth. When it comes to oral health, there is a lot of misinformation about shifting to a plant-based diet. Let’s find the information you need to ensure that a quality standard of vegan dental health.
Calcium and Dental Health
Calcium is very crucial when it comes to dental health. Dairy products are some of the best sources of calcium. Although vegans eliminate dairy products from their diet, there are other reliable sources of calcium. These include nuts, fruits, vegetables, and seeds. It is important to incorporate fat-soluble vitamins A, D, and K. Just like other minerals, calcium requires a hand to function properly and get absorbed in the digestive tract.
Dental Problems Associated with Vegan Diet
You probably have come some horror stories linking vegan diet with dental health problems. Let’s dig into a few and find out how you can lower their occurrence.
- Dental Cavities
Though some people believe that vegans are more prone to dental cavities, studies refute such allegations. However, vegans are at a higher risk of dental erosion because of high intake of acidic foods and foods loaded with natural sugars. Taking good care of your oral health can ward off dental cavities.
- Tooth Decay
Sugars from fruits can make your teeth prone to cavities as well as decay. Since vegans mostly depend on fruits which are high in natural sugars, they can easily develop damaged teeth. Again, you need to exercise proper oral hygiene and eat sugary fruits in moderation.
- Plaque
Snacking and grazing can put you at higher risk of plaque. Most vegans like grazing between meals. Because their teeth are constantly in contact with food, they are more likely to develop cavities and plaque. When sugar comes into contact with your teeth, it only takes a few seconds for acid to form and attack them. This makes the possibility of plaque formation greater. Solution: maintain good oral health!
How to Maintain Good Oral Health on Vegan Diet
While many studies have conducted about how a vegan diet can affect our teeth, researchers are yet to present definitive answers regarding whether the impacts are negative or positive. This is mainly because other factors like genetics, lifestyle, diet, and fluoride content in water. Here are some tips to maintain a good oral health on a vegan diet:
- Eat a well-balanced diet containing all the essential vitamins, minerals and other nutrients.
- Avoid both acidic and sugary foods irrespective of lifestyle or diet choice.
- Maintain a good oral hygiene by brushing and flossing regularly to eliminate food particles attached on your teeth.
- Visit your dentist regularly for check up.
Conclusion
Following a plant-based diet can put your dental health at some risk. This usually happens if you don’t have a good oral hygiene and lack of knowledge about the foods that can harm your teeth. As a vegan, consuming food that promote good dental health and cutting down the ones that cause damage is the way to go.
