Do vegetarians have bad teeth?
There’s no reason to assume that Vegans or vegetarians consume high amounts of carbs and sugar- most meat eaters also eat high amounts of these things. If anything, vegetarians and vegans are generally more health conscious and would be more likely to eat higher amounts of fruits and vegetables which help prevent cavities. It comes down to dental care and genetics. Cavities are caused the the same virus that causes strep throat and strep B- people who are prone to these are also more prone to cavities. Sugar feeds the virus which is why high sugar consumption leads to more cavities. Consuming large amounts of soda or citrus (such as orange juice) can also contribute to cavities as it eats away the enamel (which protects your teeth).
I never heard of that. Vegetarians aren’t any more likely to have bad teeth than anyone else. If you eat a lot of refined sugar and simple starches and don’t take care of your teeth you will probably get a lot of dental caries. I’m vegetarian, my teeth are in pretty good shape. They are somewhat stained because of excessive coffee drinking. A dentist told me a long time ago that I have very sensitive gums (I wasn’t vegetarian then). Ever since then I have always been pretty careful about taking care of my teeth. I don’t think being vegetarian makes any difference in how good your teeth are.
Anything that is put in to the mouth with the exception of water can cause harm to teeth. When we chew the food is broken down by the enzymes in our saliva. In this process the mouth becomes acidic. If the mouth’s environment stays in this way for long periods of time the acid wears away at the teeth. That is why it is good to eat 3 meals at separate intervals as the mouth is being given enough time to neutralise. Drinking water and chewing sugar free gum lessens the time. When we brush our teeth, we are trying to remove plaque, this is the bacteria in the mouth that feeds off the sugar esp Sucrose (man made sugar) that is left on the teeth after eating. 3min brushing in the morning ( before eating) and last thing at night is essential. So a balanced diet with fewer sweets, chocolates and sugary drinks coupled with good toothbrushing are the key to having good teeth. I’m a dental nurse and a vegetarian. My teeth are in perfect condition. Also vegetarians tend eat less less sugary foods
I don’t think it’s right to just think that all vegetarians consume too much sugar and carbs. I mean, I’m sure some of us do, but I’m sure some of us don’t. I’m sure there are some omnivores who do too, and some omnivores that don’t. It really all comes down to the person and how much they care about their diet. And really, since I’ve became a vegetarian, I’ve become more concerned with my health in all directions. I used to not rinse or floss, but I do now, just like I exercise now and ect, ect. I’m sure that no matter what people eat, a good dentist and/or a tooth brush can fix it.
I’m a vegetarian and have no problems at all with my teeth, I’ve never had to have a single filling I think if vegetarians have a good diet, just like anyone should, they shouldn’t be eating loads of sugar anyway and they get enough protein. Sciency bit!: Complex carbs are different to simple carbohydrates the latter contains sugary compunds. Complex do not and these are the “healthy” ones that people with a good diet usually eat and contain different chemical monomers in them. A low fat diet is not bad either as there are many, many health problems that can evolve from a fatty diet… heart attack/myocardial infarction.
