Cosmetic Dentistry

It is said that you are what you eat.  If you eat lots of processed and fast foods cooked in unhealthy oils and high in fat, salt, sugar, and less than ideal meat, can you really expect to have a healthy body or healthy teeth?

More and more people today are realizing that the packaged foods in the center aisle of the grocery store are not the healthiest for us.  Preservatives, unpronounceable, synthetic, GMO, and artificial ingredients abound in processed foods.  Our bodies aren’t able to utilize these ingredients and many of them can contribute to health problems.  It’s imperative that we take time to read ingredient lists and if you see anything you can’t pronounce, pass it by.

What does “processed” mean?  Most foods are processed in some way, like cut from a tree, ground in a machine, or churned into butter.  Even though these foods are processed, they are still real food.  The problem arises when foods are processed with chemicals.  Chemically processed foods are made solely from refined (changed from the natural state) ingredients and artificial substances and are often high in sugar, fat, or both to enhance the taste.

Many, many processed foods are full of soy oil, and 90% of soy grown in the US is genetically modified.  Do you really want to eat artificially changed oil?  We really don’t know yet how GMO foods will affect our bodies and health over the long haul.  Think about switching to natural, healthy oils like coconut, avocado, walnut, and olive oil and don’t buy foods containing soy unless it is organic.

Learn what foods are on the dirty dozen list of most contaminated produce and avoid them or buy organic.  Yes, organic costs a little more, but your body and your teeth will thank you for relieving them of having to filter out and work extra hard to rid your body of the toxins on contaminated produce. 

Learn what ingredients are safe and read labels to ensure you are buying the most natural and nutritious foods that you can afford.  Calcium rich foods like dairy, salmon, almonds and dark green leafy vegetables help promote strong teeth and bones.  Phosphorus found in eggs, fish, lean meat, dairy, nuts and beans keep tooth enamel strong and healthy.

You and your teeth are what you eat, so give them the most nutritious food you can.