Nutrition and Supplements Information
Tooth decay results from imbalanced body chemistry. Unhealthy bodies cause unhealthy teeth. Teeth are built and maintained from the inside out. Teeth are not dead, static structures; they are living organs. The structure of each tooth is constantly being rebuilt from within.
This rebuilding process requires a balance of available vitamins and minerals in the bloodstream, which is supplied by a healthy diet. Without plentiful, balanced nutrition, the teeth cannot maintain or rebuild healthy dental structures.
While good oral hygiene is important for maintaining oral and dental health, NO amount of brushing or flossing can rebuild decaying teeth. Healthy teeth are built from the inside out. The best place to maintain and rebuild healthy teeth is through your stomach!
Cut the junk and load up on real-food nutrients to feed healthy teeth:
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1. Cut out sugar
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Sugar is toxic and pulls key nutrients like magnesium, calcium and Vitamin C from our gut and bloodstream and your bones and teeth. Avoid all refined sugars, cereal, fruit juice, bakery goods and processed and/or low-fat dairy (milk, cottage cheese and sweetened yogurts). Conventional milk is not healthy since it is high in lactose and sugar. High heat pasteurization and homogenization create de-natured proteins and free-radical fats that imbalance the body.
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Natural sugar like honey, maple syrup and coconut sugar are still sugar. Eat them in moderation only.
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2. Reduce phytic acid and “anti-nutrients” by avoiding grains​
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Phytic acid is an anti-nutrient that our bodies cannot break down. It must be neutralized by binding to vital nutrients like calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, zinc and iron. This binding process makes the nutrients that are being bound to unavailable to the body. Thus, most grains act as “negative nutrition” in the body because they eliminate and destroy the body’s available nutrients.
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Avoid corn (corn is a grain, NOT a vegetable), wheat, barley, brown rice, quick oats, etc.
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Beans and nuts are also high in phytic acid; eat traditionally prepared, raw forms in moderation.
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3. Fuel and heal with healthy fats!
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Your body needs fat daily to absorb nutrients, balance hormones, fuel metabolism and to survive.
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Your brain and cell walls are made of fat. Your body cannot maintain or restore itself without fat.
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Focus on healthy, saturated fats from healthy pasture-raised animals like grass-fed beef, pasture butter and organic/unrefined coconut oil.
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Egg yolks are an excellent source of healthy fats, antioxidants and minerals. Purchase farm-fresh (local), free-range, organic eggs.
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4. Just eat real food – food without labels
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Try to eat a vegetable with every meal and not just the “picky eater, child-friendly” vegetables like peas, green beans and carrots. Go for the good stuff that is higher in nutrients like broccoli, cauliflower, spinach, kale, squash, asparagus and other dark leafy greens.
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Eat both raw and cooked vegetables. “Eat the rainbow” for enzyme and nutrient diversity.
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Fruit is a great “sweet treat” that treats your body to taste and nutrition but should be consumed in moderation.
Why Supplements Matter
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Not only is it important to create a healthy lifestyle with your eating habits, it is also important to supplement your body to ensure you are receiving all the necessary nutrients your body needs.
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Large segments of the population have suboptimal nutrient intakes.
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Research shows that nutritional supplements can improve patient outcomes and reduce healthcare costs.
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Intake of antioxidants and other key nutrients can improve quality of life.
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Specific vitamin and mineral deficiencies can increase the risk for certain chronic conditions, such as periodontal disease and dental decay.
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While selecting supplements to work into your daily consumption, make sure you are paying attention to the quality of the supplement for optimal nutrients. We at Pleasant Avenue Dentistry highly recommend Thorne Research for most supplemental needs.
Antibiotics and Probiotics
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Antibiotics kill the good bacteria in your gut, leaving your body defenseless against harmful pathogens like the fast-growing Candida albicans. After a course of antibiotics, this yeast can quickly come to dominate your small intestine resulting in the illness that we know as Candida Related Complex, or Candida overgrowth.
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Taking probiotics before, during and after your course of antibiotics can help to maintain the balance in your digestive system. We recommend probiotics by Primal Blueprint. We invite you to call Pleasant Avenue Dentistry at 218-237-7200 to schedule your appointment with our dentists, Dr. Ben Sitz, Dr. Elise Soulliere or Dr. Carolyn Disse, to learn more about our nutritional supplements in Park Rapids, Minnesota.
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