How a Vegetarian or Vegan Diet Affects Your Dental Health

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How a Vegetarian or Vegan Diet Affects Your
Dental Health
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• Many people opt to be vegetarian or vegan for
  ethical, religious or health reasons. Still,
  every coin has two sides. Sometimes, nutritional
  deficiencies can happen as a result of a
  vegetarian diet.
• Such deficiencies may also affect dental health
  but you may not even realise this health concern
  until you go in for a dental exam. As a Pediatric
  dentist in Ahmedabad, we have encountered those
  who opt into a vegan diet and enjoy the benefits
  of weight loss and reduced skin allergies.
• On the other hand, we have also encountered those
  who (mostly through improper or poorly planned
  vegan diets) are deprived of the essential
  nutrients for healthy living. Whether you go for
  painless dentistry or the best dentist in
  Ahmedabad for a dental checkup, you may not
  realise how your diet affects your dental health
  until you undergo an actual dental exam.

027 17-401500 mbdental_at_gmail.com
www.mbdentalhome.com
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• A vegan diet generally consists of fruits and
  beverages in the form of juices extracted from
  fruits and vegetables. Fruit juices, in
  particular, can be harmful for your teeth in many
  ways.
• Here is a little known fact. Pure fruit juice
  contains a lot of sugar - and that sugar converts
  into acid when consumed by oral bacteria. This
  acid then attacks your teeth and can cause
  cavities. The same acid byproduct can also wear
  down your tooth enamel over the time.

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www.mbdentalhome.com
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• In contrast, L-arginine is a type of amino acid
  found naturally in meat. Researchers have found
  that L-arginine decreases the ability for
  bacteria to stick together which is beneficial
  for breaking down the bacterial layers in dental
  plaque.
• The lack of L-arginine in vegans, especially,
  prevents the formation of dental plaque.

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• Dairy products such as milk, cheese and yogurt
  contain bone building minerals such as calcium.
• Lacto-ovo-vegetarians still have these nutrients
  but there are many vegan diets that lack dairy
  products.

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• Some vegans who do not properly plan their diets
  can suffer from deficiencies in complete
  proteins, vitamin B12, riboflavin, vitamin D and
  calcium. However, research reveals that even by
  consuming adequate amount of veggies, legumes,
  fruits and grains, vegans can acquire the
  required nutrition through proper intake.
• A well-planned vegan diet with ample minerals
  like calcium encourages high intake of high fibre
  fruits and can actually have the effect of
  slowing down the periodontal disease.Vegan diets
  also contain a lot of raw vegetables and citrus
  fruits that are highly recommended for their
  preventive benefits for warding off diseases like
  oral cancer

027 17-401500 mbdental_at_gmail.com
www.mbdentalhome.com
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• Hence, it is recommended that vegan dieters
  consider consulting a nutritionist or dentist
  about alternative foods that can help them
  maintain healthy gums, teeth and mouth even on a
  special diet.
• Regardless of the diet you follow, it is
  absolutely essential to regularly monitor your
  dental health to make sure that your teeth and
  gums are getting all the nutrients they need -
  and not being exposed to corrosive substances. If
  you have any concerns, book an appointment with a
  dentist to discuss the effects of your diet on
  your dental health.

027 17-401500 mbdental_at_gmail.com
www.mbdentalhome.com
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