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As with most other lifestyle decisions, what you habitually put in
your mouth adds up. And the resulting impact on your well-being is either
positive or negative. How so? Good nutrition contributes greatly to healthy
teeth, gums, nervous system, and bones. By contrast, poor nutrition leads
to poor dental health, lack of energy, poor self-esteem, and that relationship
killer, bad breath.
First, face the sad facts. Snack-happy Americans are notorious for eating
all the wrong things at the wrong times, loading the mouth with a constant
supply of sugars and starches. This stimulates production of sticky tooth-attacking
bacterial plaque for up to 20 minutes even after the food is gone. Such
foods not only contribute to dental damage, but they erode your nutritional
status as well. And what about soft drinks? Enemies of good health, soft
drinks have replaced good nutrition for many. They're loaded with as
much as 11 teaspoons of sugar per serving, enamel-eroding acids, and
calcium-leeching caffeine; thus sabotaging your oral health and stealing
the raw materials needed for healthy teeth, jawbone, and other body structures
as well.
So what's the antidote? Go against the flow. Eat nutritious foods, and
eat mostly at mealtimes, brushing immediately afterwards. If you must
snack, choose raw, low-sugar fruits, raw veggies, nuts, cheese, plain
yogurts, boiled eggs, herbal teas and flavored waters. Drink up to 10
glasses of clean water per day. With consistency, evidence shows that
you'll not only please your teeth, but you'll revitalize your entire
metabolism, improving body weight, physical endurance, mental alertness,
and well-being.
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