Tag: Food

Is Chocolate a Secret Weapon for Good Health?

Mar, 6, 2020

chocolate teeth — *Cheers to chocolate! Healthy teeth never looked this tasty.*

By now, the last reminder of Valentine’s Day is the heart-shaped box of chocolate stashed on top of the refrigerator with 2-1/2 uneaten pieces getting stale. But it might surprise you to know that the International Day of Love is now the #3 candy holiday behind #1 Easter and #2 Christmas, but still ahead of our personal office favorite Halloween. Valentine’s-related sales account for 25% of the total annual candy purchases according to the market website CandyIndustry.com.

But just like those heart-shaped boxes of chocolates, the answer to our headline question is mixed. While chocolate’s effects may be detrimental to your weight-loss efforts, there is research to indicate it has unique health benefits.

The Good…

Polyphenols – These micronutrients occur naturally in cocoa. They have a natural antibacterial action and disrupt streptococcus bacteria that contribute to dental cavities. In fact, the chocolate compound CBH helps to harden enamel and is more effective at fighting decay than even fluoride.

The Bad…

This all applies mainly to Dark Chocolate. That means no Snickers. As a rule, the higher the cacao percentage and the lower the sugar, the better. In fact, research suggests that the best way to derive the dental benefits is from nibbling on raw cacao nibs. However, they are far too hard and bitter for most people to chew on, so the internet is full of recipes and tricks for integrating cacao into your favorite smoothie, breakfast recipe, or baked treat.

…And The Ugly.

All supporting research is based on moderate consumption. As it is denser and richer than it’s confectionary cousin milk chocolate, it is easier for small amounts of dark chocolate to satisfy those cravings most of us get.

But chocolate is chocolate, right? If adding a semi-sweet bite of it to an already-healthy diet can improve overall health, why not? Just remember to brush afterward.

Can That New Year’s Diet Hurt Your Teeth?

Jan, 3, 2020

We’re all for New Year’s Resolutions! But when it comes to drastic changes in your eating habits, do your research. That means don’t double down on that trendy 9-Day Liquid Fast that only allows you to have smoothies made with kale, wheatgrass, coconut butter, Anis seeds, and organic unfiltered vinegar.

But seriously, there are two basic changes that you can make for weight loss and better overall health. Eat less, move more. Take in fewer calories than you expend. Eat real food, just enough. Making the lifestyle commitment to that simple formula can tip the scales in your favor. But we’re always looking for a shortcut, and there have been several instances of fad diets in recent years (Atkins, anyone?) that delivered weight-loss results with unintended side-effects.

At Meyer & Johns, we recognize that oral health is just one component of your overall health. As such, we want you to inform yourself of some of the possible down-sides of popular diets.

Fruit Detox

Our Kale/vinegar smoothie above was a joke, but more and more people are trying detoxes, cleanses, and purges as a way to kick-start weight loss. However, an extended fruit-only diet can leave you lacking vital protein and other nutrients that are vital to bone and tooth health. Additionally, we’ve warned you about the potential for fruit acid to damage your enamel.

Keto/Low-Carb

While the latest fad may really melt away fat, there are several unintended consequences of Keto diets. By triggering the ketosis that brings results, you’re likely to develop bad breath as your body releases ketones from burning fat instead of carbs. Additionally, an overload of these naturally-occurring substances can upset the acidic balance in both your mouth and your body, leading to blood problems and even heart damage.

Low-Fat Diet

While this decades-old approach has been shown to have big impacts on cardiovascular health, fats are a vital part of our nutritional make-up. Removing too much can restrict your body’s processing of water-soluble vitamins, including A, E, K, and D. This last one is especially important, as Vitamin D aids in the absorption of calcium, which is a key component of healthy bones and teeth.

Extreme Low-Cal

Sure, it may melt the pounds away, but at what cost? Malnutrition sends all kinds of mixed distress signals to your body, which can send you into physiological panic and trigger drastic measures. As for your mouth, malnutrition causes weakening of your enamel, gums, and jaw, and can even lead to tooth loss if not addressed.

If you’re making big changes in pursuit of better health in 2020, we congratulate you! Tell us at your next appointment how it’s going, and let us know if you’re experiencing any changes in your mouth.

Thanksgiving Foods to Smile About

Nov, 20, 2018

Thanksgiving marks the beginning of the Eating Season, with feasts, leftovers, and of course, desserts! As always, brushing is key protecting your family’s teeth. Make sure to stick to your established brushing routines even though eating patterns maybe different than usual.

But there are also other ways to make your gatherings and meals better for both teeth and overall health. Consider alternative recipes for making old favorites, or starting a new food tradition by serving something entirely different. Here are some options to consider:

Sweet Potatoes

These are a Thanksgiving staple for many families, but traditional preparation often includes up to a cup of brown sugar, plus sticky marshmallow topping. Why not try a different, healthier take this year by roasting instead? Toss your cubed sweet potatoes with olive oil, honey, and cinnamon and bake for 25 minutes at 375 degrees. Honey blends differently with vegetables than processed sweetener, and helps bring out the natural sweetness without coating teeth in sugar.

Cranberry Sauce

You really can’t do Thanksgiving without it, but canned varieties and many traditional recipes contain excessive amounts of — you guessed it — sugar. Not that we dentists don’t love cranberries… research suggests that they inhibit the formation of glucan, the sticky molecular foundation that plaque uses to collect on your teeth. For a healthier alternative, the website WellnessMama.com has a no-refined-sugar recipe that is a tasty way to get your annual cranberry fix.

Fruits & Veggies

These should always be a go-to snack, and holidays are no different! Blogs and social media sites are great sources for creative presentation ideas to get kids engaged with healthier holiday snacking. We’ve shown a few of our recent easy favorites from Pinterest above.

Whatever is on your plate, all of us at Meyer & Johns Dental are thankful to be your dental care home, and wish you a safe, festive Thanksgiving holiday.

Pizza for Breakfast?!

Aug, 21, 2018

brushing and meals — *Breakfast on the go is sometimes necessary, but how can you protect your teeth?*

You’ve been there — a late wake-up, rushing out the door, needing to put anything in your stomach to start the day. And the only thing available to eat that doesn’t require a plate or utensils is… Pizza. And so pizza is what you eat for breakfast.

Contrary to many opinions, that cold leftover slice isn’t really awful for you. As for your teeth, a good brushing is all that’s required to erase the evidence in your mouth… though it won’t help with your dietary guilt. And that’s true for most foods: as long as you remove excess food residue, what you eat for breakfast won’t harm your teeth.

Brushing Away OJ? Don’t.

A new school of thought has emerged that brushing before breakfast is as effective as brushing after. And provided that breakfast isn’t anything with excessive sugar (sweetened cereals, syrup, jelly/jam), this is true.

But according to the Mayo Clinic (via lifehacker.com), when you brush is even more important than what you eat for breakfast. However, the Mayo experts note that the exception to this rule is when consuming food or drink that contains high levels of acid, including fresh fruits and orange juice – both of which are breakfast staples. That’s because the naturally-occurring sugars and acid in these foods temporarily weaken the tooth enamel, and normal brushing can actually cause damage. For this reason, it is recommended that you either brush before breakfast, or wait at least 30 minutes after eating.

A Healthy Diet DOES Matter

However, there are many nutrition choices that really do matter to your mouth. According to the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, several specific foods contribute to good dental and overall health. They recommend eating these:

Calcium-rich foods —including milk, yogurt and cheese, fortified soy products, canned salmon, almonds and dark leafy greens— help promote tooth and bone health.
Eggs, fish, lean meat, dairy, nuts, and beans contain phosphorus, which is good for strong bones and tooth enamel.
For good gum health and immune functions, eat plenty of foods rich in Vitamin C, including citrus fruits, tomatoes, peppers, broccoli, potatoes, and spinach.

Always remember that the best plan is to brush after eating if you can – Even if it means you have to rinse away acidic food residue with water before brushing. If you have more questions about making healthy food choices for your body AND mouth, ask Drs. Meyer or Johns at your next appointment.