July 18, 2013

Your Teeth and Organic Foods: Good or Bad?

A lot of emphasis is put on our diet in contemporary society. We are advised to eat well and take regular exercise in order to maintain good overall health. However are we compromising our dental health with some of the foods that we eat?

beautiful smile
It is well documented that foods containing excessive amounts of sugar like syrup and honey will damage the teeth and gums. Cavities are formed when the sugars we take in feed bacteria in the mouth that cause caries. Some foods such as milk and cheese are conversely said to be good for our teeth through the virtue of remineralistation of the enamel (the protective coating on our teeth).

A hot topic recently is the benefits of organic vs. non organic foods in our diet. There are a few things that we consider when deciding which to purchase.

Moral Implications
Processed, non organic food produced on a mass scale does damage to our environment. This is because supply is notably greater than demand, so we have to consider a number of factors when choosing to support this industry.

The energy used to grow vegetables, feed livestock and transport these foods to the supermarkets is one. Studies have shown that fuel consumption all over the world could be cut significantly if we found a way to waste less. Supermarkets order in bulk in order to have a constant stock of foods which are within their sell by date.

Battery farming chickens for example is arguably a morally bereft way for an animal to live, even if it was bred to be livestock in the first place. Some maintain that giving them a better quality of life before they reach the abattoir is the least we could do. Certain factions even go as far as to say that it is logical as the quality of food we would receive would be superior also.

Health Factors
Organic fruits and vegetables are shown to have a higher concentrations of vitamins, therefore are more beneficial to us than their non organic counterparts. Vitamin C in peppers, carrots and oranges for example is crucial for maintaining gum health and preventing gum disease, more about gum disease can be found at dhealth. Whereas dairy produce contains calcium which serves to strengthen our teeth and fight decay. The cows that produce this dairy can be reared on what would be their natural diet of grass containing all the essential vitamins to produce calcium-rich milk. This would be considered organic.

organic fruits and vegetables

If we are eating non organic variants of these foods then these benefits are lessened from a nutritional perspective, so we essentially pay slightly less for convenience and constant availability whilst letting the quality of food suffer.

It goes without saying that organic chocolate and honey or anything that contains sugar will damage the teeth in the same way as the non organic food stuffs if consumed in excessive amounts without a proper oral hygiene routine in place.

The benefits of eating an entirely organic diet though could prove healthier in the long run for you overall health and oral health, simply because the vitamin and mineral levels are more concentrated. Therefore it is advisable that organic foods are incorporated into your diet as much as possible.

Oral health is being considered as a determining factor of overall health also, because the mouth offers a direct route into the body, not only down the throat but through the vessels in the gums down to the heart too. 


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  1. Diet and regular soda are highly acidic, like methamphetamine and crack cocaine. Paired with poor dental hygiene, the citric and phosphoric acid in soda can lead to substantial damage and decay

  2. Food Expert2:31 PM

    Health Foods That Are Great for Your Teeth

    1) Water,2) Apples,3) Nuts,4) Celery,5) Cheese

    6) Salmon,7) Xylitol

  3. Expert2:33 PM

    Top Worst Health Foods for Your Teeth

    1) Dried Fruits,2) Blueberries,3) Fruit Juice

    4) Wine,5) Citrus,6) Dry, Starchy Foods

    7) Coffee



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