How Keto Diet Affects Your Oral Health?

How Keto Diet Affects Your Oral Health?

Introduction

Keto diets have grown to be immensely popular as they have helped numerous individuals lose weight by changing their diet. Keto diets aim to cut out carbohydrates and sugars from an individual’s diet and places more focus on eating foods such as meat, leafy vegetables, etc. In this, the supply of glucose in the body reduces. Thus, when the presence of glucose reduces, the body switches to burning fat in the body instead, which causes the individual to lose weight. This procedure is commonly referred to as ‘ketosis.’ While ketosis can bring you the weight loss you desire, it also affects other aspects of your body, such as your oral health. Thus, this article will highlight how a keto diet affects your oral health.

1. Keto Breath

One of the major, and more undesirable, ways that keto diets can affect your oral health is by altering the smell of your breath. ‘Keto breath’ is a common term that refers to the sickly sweet smell that comes from this particular diet; when mixed with bacteria in the mouth, this results in an even more unpleasant odor. But why does this happen? As mentioned earlier, the change in diet causes the body to begin breaking down fats for energy. Three types of ketones arise from this process, and one of these is a ketone called acetone. The body doesn't use particular ketone for the production of energy, and it is thus expelled through the urine and the lungs. It is what gives the breath this distinct smell.

2. Reduces Cavities

On the other hand, the reduction in sugar intake can mean immense improvement in oral health. Sugary foods are one of the primary causes of cavities as they provide the nutrients required for bacteria to grow and thrive. When bacteria decay sugars and high carb foods, they produce acids that cause demineralization of the teeth. It can significantly reduce the mineral content in the teeth and hence cause easier erosion of the enamel. In this way, it makes the teeth more susceptible to cavities, which occurs less with a low carb diet. Thus, a keto diet can help you significantly reduce the risk of cavities.

3. Improves Your Smile

Apart from reducing the build-up of bacteria, keto diets also help to decrease the amount of phytic acid in the body. This acid is responsible for the absorption of minerals and occurs in higher quantities in foods rich in carbohydrates. Thus, it too contributes to the reduction of the mineral content of the teeth which can, in turn, affect the whiteness of your teeth and hence your smile. Thus, keto diets help reduce this issue as well and thus improves your smile.

4. Other Dental Problems

Apart from cavities, the switch to a diet that is low in carbohydrates can also help reduce the presence of inflammation, gingivitis, etc. It is because the incorporation and increased intake of foods like leafy vegetables can provide you with nutrients your body may lack. Hence improving its overall functioning.

Ways To Reduce Keto Breath

Ways To Reduce Keto Breath

Thus, while keto diets can positively impact your oral health, you do not want to be walking around with keto breath. The following are some easy ways by which you can improve this and hence experience only the positive benefits:

1. Stay Hydrated

Most often, bad breath occurs because of the reduction in the movement of saliva in the mouth. Keto diets may also affect this and hence taking regular sips of water and reducing dehydrating activities, stress levels, etc. can improve the smell of your breath. Apart from this, you could also try adding some herbs, such as clove, cinnamon, etc.

2. Good Oral Hygiene

Good Oral Hygiene

Keto diets alone cannot provide you with immaculate oral health. Thus, you must continue practices, such as brushing, flossing, and other oral practices to ensure that your oral health remains in its best condition.

3. Chew Gum

Using gum or mint to reduce lousy breath temporarily is a common practice that many people follow. Substances in the gum or mint counter's the smell, and these activities also stimulate the production of saliva, which acts as a natural mouth freshener.

4. Do Not Jump In

When it comes to changing diet, exercise, or sleep patterns in the body, it is crucial that you gradually make the switch. It means that instead of immediately switching from high carb to low carbs, you should make minor switches in food before completely cutting it out. It can help your body get adequate time to adjust and hence can help reduce imbalances, etc.

Conclusion

How Keto Diet Affects Your Oral Health?

In conclusion, there are many ways in which keto diets can have a positive effect on your oral health. Apart from reducing cavities and inflammation, it can greatly improve the whitened appearance of your teeth. While bad breath is an issue no one wishes to have, you could follow simple remedies to fix this. However, sometimes the bad breath may arise due to other more severe issues and hence should not be ignored. Oral health is a vital indicator of your body’s overall well-being and hence you must pay close attention to it. In case you think the diet may be affecting something else or has allowed an issue to become clearer, then it is highly advised that you visit a local practitioner who is expertise in sedation dentistry to ensure that you are in perfect health.