Why is Healthy Eating Important?



Why is healthy eating important?

Your general health depends a lot on having a balanced diet. Your drinking and eating habits affect your mouth so it is important to try and have a healthy diet so that you can look after your teeth.

Dental plaque is a soft sticky substance that builds up on your teeth.  It is mostly made up of bacteria, which feed on sugar from food and drink, providing acids as a waste product.  The acid dissolves the teeth surface by attacking it. Tooth decay occurs when this happens too often.

After an acid attack, teeth can repair themselves, given the opportunity.  It helps if fluoride (a mineral that is an ingredient in most toothpaste) is present in the mouth. This is why it is important to brush your teeth twice a day with fluoride toothpaste.

Sometimes it can be hard to change your diet if you are in the habit of eating certain foods but there are lots of alternatives that you can eat that have less sugar or acid.