The paleodiet and its benefits for oral health

We are often asked about the relationship between certain eating styles or diets, such as the paleo diet, and oral health. Logically, there is always a relationship between the food we eat and the health of our mouth, although it is not the only factor that influences.

A diet that has become popular in recent years is the paleo diet or paleolithic diet, although strictly speaking it is not a diet, since it does not weigh quantities of food, but a pattern of eating.

So,what exactly does the Paleo diet consist of and how does it influence our oral health?

What is the Paleo Diet?

In a very simplified form, it consists of adapting our eating habits to those followed by our ancestors thousands of years ago. It is about eating more natural foods and reducing or eliminating processed foods.

Specifically, the paleo diet talks about eliminating cereals, legumes, dairy products, refined sugar and processed foods. On the other hand, the consumption of fruits, vegetables, animal protein, eggs, nuts, roots, non-vegetable oils and seeds is increased.

However, this diet must be applied in an adapted and rational way, since not all people have the same dietary needs, nor do they perform the same amount of physical activity or have the same general state of health.

In addition, there are some foods that are discarded when they actually have a valuable nutritional contribution, such as legumes. Let’s remember that our hunter-gatherer ancestors ate what was available to them, they had no choice.

It should also be noted that the paleo diet varied according to the region and the foods available in that area.

The SEEN (Spanish Society of Endocrinology and Nutrition) does not recommend any unbalanced diet or those that restrict food groups or nutrients that are necessary to maintain health.

How does the Paleo diet influence oral health and general health?

Today’s poor diet has been linked to many of today’s health problems, such as overweight, food intolerances or cardiovascular diseases, to name a few examples.

It is undeniable that what we eat influences our health, but we must not forget other factors, such as a sedentary lifestyle or chronic stress, which are not beneficial either.

But there are principles of the Paleolithic diet that benefit our dental health:

• Reduce or eliminate the consumption of refined sugars. Sugar is one of the foods that cause the most cavities, among other problems.
• Reduce or eliminate carbohydrates. In our mouth, carbohydrates are transformed into simple sugars, which causes oral health problems.
• Drink more water. In addition to the clear benefits for general health, we avoid carbonated, sugary or pigmented beverages that can alter the color of our teeth, such as wine or tea.
• Eating foods with more nutritional and vitamin intake helps us to have better defenses, which improves the protection of our mouth against bacteria.

What do we recommend from Ahoa?

Our recommendation is that, if you want to follow a paleo diet, you should consult a professional (doctor or nutritionist), who will help you adapt it to your state of health and lifestyle. In a very general way, we can suggest:

• Reduce consumption of processed foods and refined sugars.
• Eat more fruits and vegetables (more fiber intake). Choose seasonal foods whenever possible.
• Eat quality, fresh meat and fish.
• Incorporate nuts and dried fruits to our diet on a regular basis.

We do not advise eliminating cereals completely, as some cereals such as brown rice are also beneficial to health. And always, of course, ask for advice from a professional and follow the advice of any diet with criteria and logic.