The American Dental Association, or ADA, was founded in 1859, and is one of the oldest and largest dental associations in the world. The ADA provides information for dentists and their patients of all ages including babies and children, teenagers, adults under 40, adults between the ages of 40 and 60, and adults over the age of 60. The dental ADA is committed to informing and educating dentists and patients, while advancing the field of dentistry and oral health, and maintaining a high level of ethics. While perusing the the ADA website, you may find pertinent information regarding what is dentistry, what is a top dental school, and what is a dentist lifestyle? The dental ada also offers useful information on how to maintain good oral health.
The dental ADA offers some nutritional information on various foods that may harm or benefit dental health. Foods that may potentially harm dental health include empty calorie foods such as sweets (i.e., candy, baked goods, etc.). These foods offer little or no nutritional value and are often loaded with sugars that can stick to the surface of and get caught in between teeth. Bacteria can harbor and feed off of these sugars, release harmful acids into your mouth, and eventually cause tooth decay. The dental ADA suggests that people avoid ingesting sugary drinks because they coat the teeth with harmful sugars that may cause tooth decay. Moreover, acidic drinks may be just as damaging to teeth and should be avoided, according to the dental ADA.
Even some foods that are more nutritious may not be good options for your dental health. Acidic fruits and vegetables may pose havoc for your tooth enamel, as well as dried fruits, because they stick to teeth surfaces more readily, and can cause plaque build up in your mouth. Fresh fruits and vegetables may be your best options, according to the dental ADA.
The dental ADA also offers suggestions of foods that can benefit dental health, including cheese, milk, plain yogurt, tofu, leafy greens, and almonds. These foods provide a great source of calcium and other important nutrients that help keep teeth strong and healthy. Meat, such as poultry and fish, as well as milk and eggs are also good options because they are rich in protein and are high in phosphorus. Foods that are high in water and fiber, such as fruits and vegetables, are always great choices when it comes to keeping your mouth clean and healthy. Moreover, these foods can help generate the production of saliva, which is a great and naturally occurring agent that aids in eliminating and neutralizing harmful acids, as well as by removing non ingested food particles. Dental ADA recommends finding good sources of vitamins C and A, as well as the drinking fluoridated water, in order to protect teeth from decay.
