It may not seem obvious to connect healthy teeth to healthy skin, but both your skin and your mouth provide an insight into your overall health. Dentists often say that the mouth is a window to the body and the same could be said of the skin, as generally speaking, people who are fit and healthy and have a healthy lifestyle have good skin, as well as bright pearly whites.
Healthy teeth and healthy skin
One of the main reasons that your skin and teeth are connected is that many of the choices you make affect both your skin and your teeth. The foods you eat, your hygiene regime and your commitment to your own health all influence your oral health and the health of your skin and many of the things that you do to benefit your teeth and gums also have rewards for your skin.
Diet
Diet plays an extremely important role in determining many areas of health, including oral health, heart health, the health and strength of the muscles and tissues, the immune system and the way your skin, hair and nails look.
The foods you eat can either harm or benefit your teeth and gums; foods that are bad for your teeth include:
- pastries, cakes and biscuits
- sweets and candy
- chocolate bars
- fizzy pop
- acidic fruit juice, wine and vinaigrette dressing
There is some debate surrounding the impact of diet on skin when it comes to foods affecting the skin in a negative way, but there is no doubt that some foods can be beneficial for your skin. Foods that are good for your skin include:
- oily fish
- nuts
- berries
- leafy green vegetables
- carrots
- red, yellow and orange peppers
- poultry and lean meat
- tuna
Many of these foods are also beneficial for your oral health; fruit and vegetables contain vitamin C, which helps with healing and repairing tissues, as well as boosting the immune system, which helps to fight off oral infections and gum disease and nuts and oily fish are good sources of vitamin D, which is essential for the body to be able to use calcium, the mineral, which is responsible for strong, healthy teeth and bones.
Hygiene
When it comes to hygiene, a good daily hygiene regime can keep your teeth and skin in check. Brushing your teeth twice a day helps to stave off oral diseases and leaves your teeth looking glossy and bright. In order to boost the whiteness of the teeth, some people may be inclined to get professional teeth whitening at a dentist. Washing and cleansing your skin is a great way to remove dirt and bacteria and ensure that your skin looks healthy and glowing.
Neglecting personal and oral hygiene increase your risk of illnesses and infections.
Lifestyle choices
The choices you make have a bearing on your health. Smoking and drinking alcohol have negative implications for your oral and general health; smoking increases the risk of gum disease, slows the body's natural healing process and causes bad breath, as well as making the skin look dull and dehydrated and accelerating the ageing process.
Many alcoholic drinks contain sugar and most are acidic, which is bad news for your tooth enamel; alcohol also dehydrates the skin, leaving it looking dry and lifeless.
