The impact of diet on your oral and overall health.

Healthy eating

Why does healthy eating matter?

Your general health and your resistance to many diseases depend a lot on eating a healthy, balanced diet. Your eating and drinking habits also affect the health of your teeth.

Dental plaque is a soft, sticky substance that builds up on your teeth. It is mostly made up of bacteria, which feed on sugar from food and drink, producing acids as a waste product. The acids attack the teeth by dissolving the minerals in the tooth surface. If this happens too often, tooth decay results. Acids in food and drink can dissolve away the tooth surface. All fizzy drinks (including ‘diet’ brands and fizzy mineral water), all squashes and all fruit juices are acidic to varying degrees. Pickles and citrus fruits are examples of acidic types of food.

After an acid attack, teeth can repair themselves, given the opportunity. It helps if fluoride (a mineral that is an ingredient in most toothpaste and is in the water supply in some areas) is present in the mouth. Most dental problems can be avoided if you:

  • Remove plaque by brushing twice a day with a fluoride toothpaste.
  • Don’t have sugary and/or acidic food and drink too often during the day. Try to have these mostly at mealtimes, not in between.
  • Chewing sugar-free gum can also help, as this increases the flow of saliva, which helps teeth to re-pair themselves.
    down white orioles circle icon down white ensign blue circle icon

    Contact

    Get in touch

    Get in touch today to book your appointment or ask any questions.

    conten shape1

    Healthy eating habits

    Between meals, you should only have ‘safe’ drinks, which are not sugary or acidic. Milk and water are ‘safe’ drinks. So are tea and coffee if you do not add sugar to them (you can use non-sugar sweeteners).

    You should try to avoid snacking between meals. If you do snack, only have ‘safe’ snacks, which are not sugary or acidic. Vegetables, nuts, breads/crackers and plain popcorn are all examples of ‘safe’ snacks. Dairy products, such as cheese, are also ‘safe’ snacks for teeth; for the sake of your general health, choose lower-fat varieties and don’t have too much.

    To stay healthy, you should be eating at least five portions of vegetables and fruit every day. Although fruits are healthy foods, they contain natural sugars and acids, so try not to eat them too often between meals.

    Healthy eating

    Some of the sweeteners found on labels which can cause tooth decay

    • Sugar,
    • Sucrose,
    • Glucose,
    • Maltose,
    • Dextrose,
    • Hydrolysed starch,
    • Corn syrup,
    • Golden syrup,
    • Brown sugar,
    • Honey,
    • Treacle,
    • Concentrated fruit juice.
    Types of sugar
    Healthy eating

    Remember the rules

    • Always brush your teeth twice a day with fluoride toothpaste.
    • Only have ‘safe’ drinks and ‘safe’ snacks between meals.
    • Eat at least five portions of vegetables and fruit every day.

    Reviews

    Trusted by our patients

    google blue red yellow green plain icon
    star orioles plain icon

    “Anna has been my Hygienist since she started working at the Manor Dental Practice and has always achieved the highest standards in looking after my dental hygiene. Anna is a very talented, intelligent and happy…”

    Mr Williams

    google blue red yellow green plain icon
    star orioles plain icon

    “What a wonderful team! They provide a comfortable environment, are personable and incredibly knowledgeable. Highly recommend!”

    Kate S

    google blue red yellow green plain icon
    star orioles plain icon

    “I have recently moved to the area and needed emergency dental treatment. On the recommendation of my new neighbours, I went to Manor Dental Practice. Gloria, the receptionist, was incredibly helpful, and I was seen…”

    Judith M

    google blue red yellow green plain icon
    star orioles plain icon

    “Recently transferred across to this practice and have been super impressed with the team. I've had a check-up and hygienist this far, and the service has been the best I've experienced. Great advice and support…”

    Ross C

    google blue red yellow green plain icon
    star orioles plain icon

    “Friendly, professional service. Full explanation of work was given, very gentle treatment and a great, friendly dental team. Highly recommended.”

    Karen H

    google blue red yellow green plain icon
    star orioles plain icon

    “I would like to highly commend this practice. I have been to some pretty dreadful dentists over the years, and this practice is a refreshing change. Everyone there (without exception) is always (without exception) friendly…”

    Sharon H

    google blue red yellow green plain icon
    star orioles plain icon

    “In Bath on a visit and needed to attend an emergency appointment for my family member. We were treated with kindness and professionalism by all members of staff from the call through to payment. Excellent…”

    Allison A

    google blue red yellow green plain icon
    star orioles plain icon

    “Cracked half of my filling and decided to register and get treatment with Manor Dental. X-rays and a scan of my teeth were taken professionally. Decided to have a filling without injections and virtually pain-free.…”

    Julie D

    google blue red yellow green plain icon
    star orioles plain icon

    “Had an emergency appointment for a broken front tooth. It was seen that morning, and the tooth was repaired. Faultless service and care. Highly recommend.”

    Brett P

    google blue red yellow green plain icon
    star orioles plain icon

    “A very friendly and helpful dental practice that I would highly recommend! Have had regular check-ups and remedial works carried out that I have been extremely happy with - and no pain at all! Also,…”

    Andy W

    google blue red yellow green plain icon
    star orioles plain icon

    “Anna has been my Hygienist since she started working at the Manor Dental Practice and has always achieved the highest…”

    Mr Williams

    google blue red yellow green plain icon
    star orioles plain icon

    “What a wonderful team! They provide a comfortable environment, are personable and incredibly knowledgeable. Highly recommend!”

    Kate S

    google blue red yellow green plain icon
    star orioles plain icon

    “I have recently moved to the area and needed emergency dental treatment. On the recommendation of my new neighbours, I…”

    Judith M

    google blue red yellow green plain icon
    star orioles plain icon

    “Recently transferred across to this practice and have been super impressed with the team. I've had a check-up and hygienist…”

    Ross C

    google blue red yellow green plain icon
    star orioles plain icon

    “Friendly, professional service. Full explanation of work was given, very gentle treatment and a great, friendly dental team. Highly recommended.”

    Karen H

    google blue red yellow green plain icon
    star orioles plain icon

    “I would like to highly commend this practice. I have been to some pretty dreadful dentists over the years, and…”

    Sharon H

    google blue red yellow green plain icon
    star orioles plain icon

    “In Bath on a visit and needed to attend an emergency appointment for my family member. We were treated with…”

    Allison A

    google blue red yellow green plain icon
    star orioles plain icon

    “Cracked half of my filling and decided to register and get treatment with Manor Dental. X-rays and a scan of…”

    Julie D

    google blue red yellow green plain icon
    star orioles plain icon

    “Had an emergency appointment for a broken front tooth. It was seen that morning, and the tooth was repaired. Faultless…”

    Brett P

    google blue red yellow green plain icon
    star orioles plain icon

    “A very friendly and helpful dental practice that I would highly recommend! Have had regular check-ups and remedial works carried…”

    Andy W

    View our testimonials right white ensign blue circle icon right ensign blue white circle icon

    Nutritional values

    Added sugar in food
    Teaspoon equivalent
    2 sweet biscuits
    1
    1 Slice of cake
    4
    Fruit-flavoured yoghurt (small carton)
    3
    Ice cream (1 scoop)
    2
    Sugar Puffs (3 tablespoons)
    4
    Cornflakes (3 tablespoons)
    1
    Honey (2 teaspoons)
    3
    Jam (2 teaspoons)
    2
    Lemon curd (2 teaspoons)
    2
    Tinned soup (1 can)
    2
    Baked beans (1 large tin)
    5
    Sweetcorn (1 medium tin)
    4
    Drinking chocolate (3 teaspoons)
    3
    Sweetened orange juice (1 small glass)
    1
    Lucozade (1 tumbler)
    5
    Lemonade (1 tumbler)
    3
    Coca-Cola (1 can)
    8
    Ribena (1 glass diluted)
    6
    Orange Squash (1 glass diluted)
    3
    Low-calorie drinks (with sugar) (1 glass diluted)
    ½
    Tomato Ketchup (2 teaspoons)
    1
    Boiled sweets (1 packet)
    24
    Milk chocolate (small bar)
    7
    Plain chocolate (small bar)
    7
    Mars bar
    9
    Bounty bar
    9
    Fruit gums
    8
    Liquorice allsorts (1 box)
    22
    Fruit pastilles (1 small packet)
    7
    Polo mints (1 tube)
    7.5
    Smarties (1 tube)
    7.5
    Rolos (1 small packet)
    8
    Bubble-gum (1 packet)
    8
    Tinned rice pudding (220g)
    4
    Fruit pie filling (200g)
    8
    Tinned fruit (1 serving)
    6

    Appointments

    Book your consultation

    Schedule your appointment today and start your journey to a healthier, more confident smile.

    Book a Consultation right orioles white circle icon right white orioles circle icon
    Book an appointment
    dot right gray plain texture
    4.8
    Google-review