What Does Brushing Your Teeth Have to Do with Nutrition?
Good oral hygiene is an absolute must for good nutrition.
If you’re a follower, a reader, or a client of mine then I know you got your mind on nutrition. I also know it might be a surprise to you that I’m talking about brushing your teeth. It’s not exactly “on brand” for me to talk about brushing your teeth because 1) I’m not a dentist and 2) I’m usually talking about foods that fuel your workouts, or meal prepping for couples, or recapping on my latest TV segments.
Sometimes I throw recipes in the mix too, (especially ones from my anti-inflammatory meal plans!) but your teeth are actually really important for your nutrition!
Mechanical digestion is the first step in breaking down the food you eat in order to extract the nutrients. We physically crush, rip, breakdown foods first with our teeth then chemical digestion by enzymes can take place.
Okay, so teeth are part of the digestive system. That’s a fact. Another fact that’s well established and pretty common knowledge is the relationship between our diets and cavities. We really need to make sure that if we are eating sugar-y foods or sticky foods that we're brushing our teeth thoroughly to prevent cavities. I'm not a dentist, but I'd say brushing your teeth after eating sticky, sweet foods is pretty generic advice.
What We Know About Diet & Oral Health
Another relationship between diet and oral health that’s maybe not so common knowledge is that what we eat directly impacts our enamel. So to all the people promoting drinking straight up apple cider vinegar for the "health benefits" (that are unsubstantiated by the way) ... they should probably stop or at the very least accompany it with a disclaimer that splashing straight up acetic acid on your teeth damages the f out of your enamel...
Fermentable carbohydrates and lactobacillus and even acids from the very fruit and veggies I always promote can create a nice enamel-ruining environment. Please don't shy away from fruits and veggies just because of the organic acids...instead just brush your teeth with an electric toothbrush!
I really didn't know the difference an electric toothbrush could make until I got one as a gift a few years back. I noticed a difference in the way my teeth felt but nothing else. Then when I moved into a house, the bathroom is really tiny so not much counter space.
Using an Electric Toothbrush
I didn't think my original electric toothbrush would fit so I just used a regular toothbrush. Not that I don't appreciate my regular toothbrush but I was really missing my electric one. SmileBrilliant reached out to me and asked to review their new electric toothbrush and (hello manifestation) I responded, Yes! Please! I would love to try out the CariPRO Ultrasonic toothbrush.
I was especially digging the idea that it would bring about a whiter smile (that's one of the settings on the brush). Bright white teeth aren’t exactly a necessity for healthy eating habits but when I am on camera talking about healthy eating, I like to have a bright smile.
I think at this point you’re probably like, okay Monica brushing your teeth is important. I already do that. What else can I do to up-level my nutrition and take better care of my teeth? I have 2 actions for you to take right now!
Action Number 1: Download this Nutrition & Oral Health freebie that I created.
In this freebie download I give a little more insight on nutrition for oral and dental health. I tell you what foods to include to prevent cavities and what to do about the foods you eat that are cavity-producing Spoiler! Fruits and veggies can increase your risk of cavities (!) but don’t let that tidbit stop you from eating them. Instead just download the freebie to rest easy and eat healthfully while taking care of your teeth.
Action number 2 is enter my giveaway.
SmileBrilliant and I are co-hosting a giveaway for one of their dope electric toothbrushes. We can be toothbrush buddies! So if you have been wanting to get your hands on an electric toothbrush you'll for sure have to enter this giveaway!
Talk about a perfect gift from you to you. Or you could win this and gift this. Honestly, getting an electric toothbrush is a really sweet Christmas present. It’s one of those things where you didn't know you needed one or wanted one until you get one.
And when you get one you NEVER want to go back. Not unless you have a tiny bathroom ;-) but even then you're going to be missing out on the best teeth cleaning of your life (apart from the dentist visits which you probably only do like once or twice a year) but you need a good teeth cleaning A LOT more than just once or twice a year, namsayin?
So get yourself a CariPRO Ultrasonic Electric Toothbrush.
Here is how to enter this dynamite giveaway:
Website: https://www.smilebrilliant.com#mindonnutrition
The Electric Toothbrush I Use Here!
20% off cariPRO Ultrasonic electric toothbrushes: 20mindonnutrition
Happy brushing!