Hippocrates, a famous physician of ancient Greece, once said, “Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food.” Hippocrates was right (which is why he’s so famous), and modern doctors, including our dentists, Drs. Morelli and Bullock, still want their patients to practice the philosophy of Hippocrates. Basically, when you eat right, it will boost your overall health, and make you less prone to disease. As an extra benefit, eating healthy will boost your oral health and help your teeth to be stronger, whiter, and more durable.
Dr. Morelli and Dr. Bullock want to keep your mouth free of infection, which is why they advise eating a balanced diet. There are five basic food groups that you should be eating from:
- Grains: Eating good, whole, grains is essential and provides you with energy and power for the day. Some whole grains include brown rice, oatmeal, and whole wheat flour. Many products that are grain based have processed flours, but these stick to your teeth, become sugars, and convert into plaque. Make sure to choose whole-grain products over these.
- Vegetables: Vegetables are the vitamin and supplement power house. They important sources of many nutrients including dietary fiber, Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Vitamin D, folate, and potassium. Try to eat a wide variety of vegetables, because they all provide you with different essential nutrients. When preparing salads, try to use a vegetable from each of these five categories: dark-green vegetables, red and orange vegetables, starchy vegetables, beans and peas, and stalk vegetables.
- Fruit: The natural sugars within fruit will power your body and, like vegetables, they have many dietary supplements that your body needs. Make sure to eat a lot of fruit, and even more vegetables.
- Proteins: Protein-based foods build your muscles and DNA. Meat, beans, nuts, seeds, soy products, and eggs are all packed with protein. Make sure to eat 8 ounces of seafood a week because it has essential amino acids and other benefits. When choosing your proteins, avoid foods that are high in saturated fats.
- Dairy: When it comes to dental health, dairy products are actually the best for you. They provide you with some proteins and have high calcium content. Your enamel is largely composed of a calcium-based compound, so dairy foods strengthen it. They also build the other bones in your body. Yogurt, cheese, and milk are some foods that are included in this area.
It is your choice to keep yourself healthy and avoid disease. If you need to contact our dental office in Brookfield, Connecticut, with any questions, you can call 203.775.6167.