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A healthy diet is a balanced diet that naturally supplies all the nutrients you need to grow. To have a balanced diet you must eat foods from the four major food groups everyday. These groups are breads and cereals, milk and dairy products, meat, fish and eggs and fruits and vegetables. All of these items help your teeth and mouth stay healthy too. However, some of the foods listed above, especially carbohydrates such as sugar and starches can increase your risk of cavities. Foods with starches include breads, crackers, pasta, rice, and snacks such as pretzels and potato chips. Sugar can be found in things other then candy. Fruits, especially dried fruit, a few vegetables and most milk products have at least one type of sugar that can cause tooth decay. Sugar can be found in many processed foods too, even some that do not taste sweet. For example peanut butter, catsup and salad dressings have sugar added to them.
You do not need to stop eating these foods to prevent cavities. In fact some of these foods are an important part of a healthy diet. But you do need to select which ones you eat and when you eat them carefully. A food with sugar or starch is safer for the teeth if it is eaten with a meal, not alone as a snack. Sticky foods, such as dried fruit or toffee are not easily washed away from the teeth by saliva, water or milk. So they stick around longer to cause cavities. Sticky foods should be limited to 1-2 times a week. And remember to brush and floss shortly after having them. Pop or Soda is another item that you should limit to only once or twice a week. Not only is there a lot of sugar in most soft drinks but the bubbles are caused by carbonic acid that will weaken the enamel on your teeth and make them more prone to decay. Want to see for your self.
The next time you loose a tooth, put it in a cup with some pop and see how long it takes to disappear. Even diet soda has enough acid in it to damage your teeth.
It is important to eat a wide variety of foods to stay healthy, but remember to keep your teeth clean after you eat so your mouth will stay healthy too.
Keep on Bruhsing
Dr. Mary