Without proper nutrition, it is much harder to fight infection and disease, negatively impacting the quality of life, or worse, shortening it. Common diseases like tooth decay, Type II diabetes, kidney disease and obesity are often symptoms of the same dietary disorder. 

For example, tooth decay develops when teeth are exposed to excess sugars or carbohydrate-rich foods. These foods can also increase insulin resistance, increasing the risk of Type II diabetes. People with Type II diabetes can have higher glucose levels in saliva, providing the perfect fuel for bacteria that cause tooth decay and gum disease and creating a cycle that can initially seem hard to break. 

While most people want to eat healthily, nutrition isn’t taught or widely discussed by medical professionals who often treat the symptoms rather than the root cause. 

How We Can Help

If you are interested in learning more about nutrition and how it affects your oral and general health, we can offer you some good starting points to do your own research. Our dental team is very interested in good oral and general health. We all love learning and passing on our knowledge to interested patients. 

When we see someone with recurring tooth decay or other dental problems, despite good oral care, we may suggest reviewing their diet. Often, simple changes can make a considerable difference to dental health. One good example is avoiding snacking between meals.

When you snack frequently, your teeth are exposed to harmful sugars more often, and your mouth becomes more acidic. The acid weakens tooth enamel, and over time causes cavities in teeth. Something as simple as snacking less frequently and choosing healthier foods for teeth can help reduce the risk of tooth decay.

Snacking causes insulin resistance, a key factor in obesity and  type 2 diabetes

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Penticton, BC
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