2024-10-09 07:33:00
A targeted diet helps protect your teeth from cavities, dental hypersensitivity, stains, gum inflammation… discover the dietary advice from our experts.
I am prone to cavities, what should I eat?
Group your food intake
Every time we eat, dental plaque forms, a soft and sticky product composed of different bacterial populations, including cariogenic bacteria, explains Professor Géraldine Lescaille, dental surgeon.
“When these bacteria encounter sugars – present in many foods and drinks – they produce acid and attack the tooth surface ».
Choose hard over soft
In adhering more to the teeth, Sticky foods (crisps, cakes, bread, etc.) encourage the proliferation of bacteria.
Limit foods high in sugar
Not just the sugar in sweet products, but also the carbohydrates in starchy foods and fruits. To consume in moderation and as part of meals.
Prefer cheese to dessert
“The presence of phosphateof calcium and of fluor allows a enamel remineralization. Studies have shown that it could have a preventive effect against cavities,” explains our expert. Another option: 99% cocoa chocolate which, in addition to being sugar-free, has a high content of protective polyphenols.
Drink water
It removes some of the food debris that get stuck between the teeth. We avoid sodas and fruit juices which, in addition to being sweet, are acidic. “If we consume them, it is only occasionally and through straws, because this limits their impact,” notes Professor Lescaille.
Chew sugar-free gum
An alternative to midday brushing, for example, it allows salivation, a key element in reducing the risk of caries. Saliva allows you to reduce acidity, therefore the activity of the bacteria causing the lesions.
My teeth tend to become stained, what should I eat?
Limit foods high in tannins
Namely tea, coffee, wine, red fruits, beets… “These substances are deposited on the naturally porous tooth enamel, which causes them to coloration brune progressive », explains Dr Christophe Lequart, dental surgeon
Drink water after a meal
It allows to rinse your mouthso this eliminates some of the coloring substances after consuming the potentially incriminated foods.
Avoid artificial colors
“A lot of them also color surfaces with whom they are in contact,” continues the dentist.
I have hypersensitive teeth, what should I eat?
Eat warm and drink at room temperature
“Tooth sensitivity is caused by dental pulp reactionthe heart of the tooth, made up of vessels and a nerve,” explains Professor Géraldine Lescaille. “This painful sensation (which can have multiple origins: loosening of the tooth, abrasion, fracture or crack, etc.) is associated with heat and/or cold.”
Limit overconsumption of acidic foods
In particular the citrus (lemon, grapefruit, orange, etc.) and vinegar. They gradually demineralize the enamel and therefore more easily reach the dentin, the porous tissue living below and communicating with the pulp.
Avoid sodas (even diet) and energy drinks
They too are particularly acidic and attack tooth enamel.
Consult in case of gastric pain
“People affected by gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) have a increased risk of dental erosion, due to acid reflux which attacks tooth enamel,” explains our expert.
My mouth is inflamed (gingivitis, loose teeth, canker sores, etc.), what should I eat?
Limit acid, salt and spices
Citrus fruits, kiwis, vinegar, tomatoes… can, like spicy dishes and overly salty foods (crisps…), fuel pain in damaged tissues, explains Dr Christophe Lequart, dental surgeon, spokesperson of the UFSBD (French Union for Oral Health).
We favor soft and neutral foods and we avoid anything that rasps, stings, burns.
Soothe with freshness
To limit inflammation, it is best to avoid foods and drinks that are too hot. We opt for fresh (not iced, as this can also promote pain).
Prefer softness
“Foods that are too hard can, in contact with damaged tissues, promote bleeding », Indicates the dentist. “And, in the event of dental loosening, causing the tooth to move, which can cause pain.” Mixing or cutting them can be a transitional solution to eating without suffering.
Avoid astringent foods
Hard cheeses (comté, gruyere, etc.), nuts, grapes, currants, figs, pineapples, etc. could, in certain people, promote mouth ulcers.
Medicines dry out my mouth, what to eat?
Hydrate yourself
Drinking enough water (1 liter/day) and regularly helps to fight against dryness of the mucous membranes.
Make yourself salivate
Sipping pineapple, ginger or kiwi juice. In addition to bringing comfortsaliva protects teeth by playing a buffering and remineralizing role.
Avoid drying foods
Products that are too sweet or salty, dry and rich in starch: potatoes, bread, chips, biscuits, etc.
Moderate alcohol
Like the café and the soft drinksit can irritate dry mouths.
And against bad breath?
In 80% of cases, thehalitosis is not due to diet, but comes from a untreated dental problem (caries, periodontal disease, defective dental reconstruction, etc.). “It can, however, be favored by garlic or onionbecause these foods contain substances which, by degrading during digestion, promote bad odors or, transported to the lungs via the blood circulation, are released by the pulmonary alveoli,” explains Dr. Christophe Lequart.
Same for coffee and alcohol which contribute to the development of bacteria causing malodorous volatile sulfur compounds. Furthermore, fasting or following a diet without carbohydrates (ketogenic) or high protein can also be the cause of bad breath.
Take a mint candy or sugar-free chewing gum can occasionally mask the bad smell.
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