Going Vegan? Some Things To Consider About Your Teeth

A vegan diet may be ‘healthy’, but can pose challenges for your oral health.

Barely a day goes by without veganism appearing in the news. It is, without a doubt, a growing trend, especially amongst younger people. There are many reasons that people choose this diet, and some would say, lifestyle;  from concerns about animal welfare, to improving food supplies across the world.

These are all admirable concerns, and our Epsom patients are, of course, free to choose the lifestyle that they wish to live. From the perspective of the dental profession, there are a few issues which would-be vegans may wish to consider before embarking on this diet.

Sugars

It is a well established fact that sugar is responsible for most tooth decay. Whilst most vegans would probably claim that their diet is healthy, it should be remembered that it doesn’t have to be this way. It is unlikely but entirely possible to be a vegan and eat nothing but cakes and sweets for example. Whether you are a vegan or meat eater, you still need to watch your sugar consumption, even those of natural origin, such as honey or fruit sugars.

Citric fruits

Most of us eat fruit, but vegan diets may contain more fruit than most. This is great from a health angle as fruit is generally high in vitamins and low in fat. Caution should be exercised though as some fruits, especially citric ones such as oranges and lemons, are highly acidic. Eating large quantities of citric fruits means that your tooth enamel can become eroded, increasing the risk of toothache and decay.

Don’t you need milk?

Vegans avoid milk and other dairy products, an important source of calcium which plays a key role in maintaining healthy teeth and bone. Whilst these can be obtained in a vegan diet from nuts, seeds etc, it is not always as straightforward as this and certain foods may need to be combined to allow effective absorption of this mineral. If you are thinking of becoming a vegan, organisations such as the Vegan Society will have information on this, and other dietary issues, to help you live healthily.

A word about toothpaste

Whilst some vegans will simply stop eating meat, fish and dairy products, others will delve much deeper into the ‘natural lifestyle’, eschewing many modern developments. Whilst this is a personal choice, here at The Clocktower Dental Practice we still feel that it is important for vegans to check on any natural toothpaste that they may choose to use, as a number of these are likely to be non fluoride based. As we know, fluoride in toothpaste plays a significant role in keeping the protective enamel of our teeth strong and healthy. The use of a non fluoride toothpaste, especially when combined with a high fruit diet, is quite likely going to result in an increased number of visits to our Epsom practice to be treated for sensitive teeth and tooth decay.

Ultimately of course, your choice of diet is yours to make. We would ask though that you continue to keep regular appointments with one of our dentists so that your teeth and gums can be monitored at regular intervals so that any problems can be treated in their early stages.

If you need to make, or re-arrange an appointment at Clocktower Dental in Epsom, please call us on 01372 720136.