Does The Paleo Diet Damage Oral Health?

Certain diets are not good for the teeth because they either cause halitosis, or lead to a lack of vital nutrients. One of the diets that is popular today is the Paleo diet. However, some of our patients wonder if it supplies the right amount of nutrition. Can losing weight by this method actually hurt your teeth?

What Is The Paleo Diet?

The Paleo diet is named for a diet that might have been eaten during the Paleolithic era, which took place about 2 million years ago. This diet includes foods, such as fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, and lean meats and fish. These foods are foods that cave people hunted or gathered. The diet eliminates foods that emerged through farming. Other names for the diet plan include the Cavemen Diet or the Stone Age Diet. The purpose of the diet is to return to a way of eating that was like that of early humans. Creators of the diet believe farming has led to problems with diabetes and heart disease. People on a Paleo diet avoid potatoes, processed foods, refined sugar, dairy, legumes, and whole grains.

Where The Diet Misses The Mark

While the diet includes some excellent foods for dental health care, it also leaves some important foods out, such as whole grains, legumes, and dairy. The calcium in dairy and the vitamins in whole grains assist in meeting the health needs of people orally. The good part of the diet is the elimination of sugar and processed foods. However, leaving dairy and whole grains out of the diet, including legumes, is not a good idea. People who wish to improve their oral care, need to eat a balanced diet from all the food groups. By leaving some of these groups out, a diet just becomes a fad.

We believe in following a dietary program of good and balanced nutrition. That is the best way to maintain and preserve your smile. While there are a lot of popular diets out there, we still believe in a balanced approach to eating. If you have any nutritional questions concerning your dental health, give us a call. We are always ready to help you with any aspect of your oral health needs. Call us now for a dental consultation or an exam.