The cold Canadian winter has settled over us now, and as the days begin to shorten, so too does our patience for cooking. Nothing can sap your motivation to fire up the stove and launch into home-cooked meal preparation quite like arriving home in the dark and cold. Similarly, the snow-slicked roads have discouraged many people from making the drive out to their favourite restaurant, making take-out food a very appealing option. Italian, Indian, and Chinese fare is only a phone call away, and can be ordered from under a particularly cozy blanket. Before you make the call, though, have you ever considered how these foods rank in terms of their effect on your oral health? Read on to see how international fare stacks up in your dentist's eyes!
Italian food - a perfect storm to wreak oral health havoc!
Commonly comprised of white dough-based pasta and pizza slathered in rich and acidic tomato sauces, Italian food can be trouble for your mouth's condition if eaten carelessly. White dough is a highly-refined carbohydrate that is predominantly made up of simple sugars. Worse still, their high gluten consistency puts every chewy bite at risk of getting lodged between teeth, putting the sugars in prime problem areas. Adding to the risk, the acid content of tomato sauce can contribute to the erosion of tooth enamel. If you are in the mood for Italian this evening, be sure to floss away the gummy high-gluten sugars, and to brush away acidic tomato residue.
Indian and Chinese – sweet, salty, and spicy tooth-staining tyrants!
Everybody knows the staining potential of wine, tea, and coffee, but did you know that any pigment-rich foods risk discolouring your smile? Curry powder is a prime suspect in serial teeth-staining cases, with its deep yellow, red, and green hue. Richly-coloured sauces, whether they be an orange-red sweet-and-sour, or a simply black soy, are both highly likely to stain teeth. Keep a glass of water handy for rinsing, and try to choose an appetizer of cruciferous greens like beef-and-broccoli or a spinach dish, as these vegetables form protective layers on the teeth that can ward off staining.
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