According to the National Institutes of Health, there was a 600% increase in Americans who followed a vegan diet from 2014 to 2018. The popularity of this lifestyle has shown no signs of stopping either! If you’re considering cutting out meat or meat and other animal byproducts – whether it’s due to concerns about animal welfare, climate change, or your health – then read on to learn how a plant-based diet affects your oral health.
First, The Pros of a Plant-Based Diet
Naturally, one of the biggest pros of a plant-based diet is that it is typically filled with broccoli, cauliflower, asparagus, and other vegetables. In addition to being packed with nutrients, which helps your body fight infections, they are lower in sugar. Since sugar is one of the leading causes of tooth decay, this is a huge win for your oral health!
3 Things to Be Mindful of with a Plant-Based Diet
In order to keep your smile happy and healthy on a plant-based diet, you should be mindful of the following:
- Starchy substitutions – Nowadays, it’s relatively easy to find meat substitutions, but they aren’t always healthy. Some alternatives are quite starchy, which can increase your risk of oral health problems, like tooth decay. So, do your best to read the labels and opt for products that have a healthy base, like black beans or garbanzo beans.
- Vitamin deficiencies – Naturally, cutting out certain foods means cutting out certain vitamins, nutrients, and minerals. For example, if you cut out dairy, which is a popular source of calcium, you should make an effort to eat plant-based alternatives, like broccoli. Of course, you can talk to your doctor about taking a calcium supplement too.
- Excess snacking – In short, your breakfast, lunch, and dinner should be filled with a source of protein, healthy fats, and satiating carbohydrates. This will help you feel satisfied and keep you from snacking between meals, which can negatively impact your oral health if you end up over-indulging in starchy and sugary foods.
4 Other Ways to Keep Your Smile Healthy
Of course, your diet is just one of many things that impact your oral health. To keep your teeth and gums decay and infection-free, it’s also important that you adopt good habits, like:
- Getting a dental checkup and teeth cleaning biannually
- Brushing, flossing, and rinsing with mouthwash consistently
- Wearing a mouthguard during sports
- Quitting smoking
About the Practice
At University Dental Group, you’ll find a welcoming, knowledgeable, and experienced dental team that’s here for all your dental needs – from providing routine checkups to answering any questions you have pertaining to your oral health. If you need to schedule your biannual visit, you are interested in making a change to your diet, or you want to talk to us about enhancing the appearance of your smile, don’t hesitate to contact us via our website or by phone at (508) 753-1911.