Based on a new study from the CSIRO, Australians are eating too much “junk food.” Although Australians do a decent job of ensuring that they eat a variety of fruits, vegetables, and other options, they didn’t do a good job of limiting what CSIRO described as “discretionary food.”
A Large Survey
The study is based on the survey results of about 40,000 Australians. The study included detailed questions about people’s food consumption. Respondents were asked about fruit and vegetable consumption, meat consumption, dairy consumption, and the consumption of discretionary foods such as sweets and alcohol.
The detailed questions included a breakdown of the number of fruits and vegetables consumed, the varieties consumed, and the frequency. People were asked about the number of different types of meat and meat products that were eaten as well as other protein sources, such as dairy, eggs, and legumes.
People were asked about the number and different types of sweets consumed, including chocolate, hard and soft lollies, and sweet buns and other pastries. Take away food also featured prominently on the questionnaire.
When the results of the scores were tallied, researchers found that the overall dietary score for Australians was a low 61 out of 100, which researchers generously described as a “C.”
How Your Diet Affects Your Teeth
There are two potential effects your diet can have on your teeth. On the one hand, your diet can contribute to the growth of oral bacteria. If you consume too much junk food, the oral bacteria will thrive increasing your risk of gum disease and tooth decay. This doesn’t just include sugars, but also all kinds of refined carbohydrates that can be readily turned into energy by oral bacteria.
On the other hand, your diet could give you the necessary nutrition for ensuring the health and durability of your teeth and gums. Vitamin A, vitamin C, calcium, magnesium, and phosphorous are all essential to the health of your teeth.
You also have to make sure you’re eating enough nutritious foods to support bone health. This is especially true if you have recently received dental implants and are consumed about the recovery. Eating the right nutrients can really encourage the development of healthy bone around your implants so they grow healthy and stable.
If you would like to learn more about how a healthy diet can encourage bone and teeth health, please call (02) 9686 7375 for an appointment with a Sydney dentist at My Hills Dentist in Baulkham Hills.
