When it comes to keeping your teeth healthy, brushing and flossing are, of course, very important, but your diet also plays a very big part. Well known fact, sugar is the main culprit. According to Medical News Today:

"The evidence that sugar is the major dietary factor in dental disease is extensive and overwhelming. The amount and frequency of consumption determine the severity of the decay. It is important to eat nutrient-rich foods and avoid foods that contain sugars and starches to maintain healthy teeth and gums. Sugar intake should be limited; oral bacteria need sugar to produce the acids that weaken tooth enamel and cause damage.

Every time you expose your teeth to sugar the demineralization process starts, and it can take up to an hour for the mouth to return to a normal pH."

Your oral health relies on the balance of bacteria in your mouth, otherwise known as the oral microbiome. Giving up sugar is crucial to this balance and adding fermented foods to the diet would significantly reduce plaque. Dr. Gerry Curatola, founder of Rejuvenation Dentistry, who has over 30 years of experience in biological dentistry, explains:

"The most important thing is balance! A healthy and balanced eating protocol must be followed. I call it the triple A of nutrition: alkalizing, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory. Everyone should know what nutritional inflammatory factors are and avoid them: gluten, dairy products and many others. These factors vary from person to person.

In addition to an alkalizing, antioxidant-rich, anti-inflammatory diet, he recommends eliminating detergent-based products such as antibacterial toothpaste and mouthwash.

A proven plan for dental health

We already know that consumption of processed and sugar rich foods causes and exacerbates tooth decay problems, but there is evidence of decay in ancient populations, long before exposure to refined sugar and white flour, as well as in wild animals today. Even dolphins that don't usually eat carbohydrates have problems with tooth decay.

It is therefore clear that following a healthy diet is not enough... In addition to this, it is necessary to consume foods rich in Omega-3. Recent research even suggests that Omega-3 intake may reduce the risk of gum disease. Consume, for example, krill oil. It is also important to eat fresh, unprocessed foods, fermented vegetables, pasture-fed livestock, etc., which will provide you with many important minerals for strong bones and teeth.

Brushing your teeth twice a day and flossing are a must! Regular cleaning at the dentist is also an important step in keeping your teeth and gums as healthy as possible.

You may also consider coconut oil, which is a powerful inhibitor of many pathogenic organisms. Avoid fluoridated water and toothpastes, as well as most commercial toothpastes.