The Keto Diet is all the rage right now. It's no secret that people who follow the popular diet lose weight. Our first concern whenever trendy diets are discussed is how they might impact your oral health. Does the keto diet harm your teeth?
Oral Health and Keto Diet
Dieters following the keto diet eat very little carbs and are high in fat. What's missing? Sugar! Do you eat less sugar? Your dentist says, “Yes please!” In fact, eating less sugar can lead to fewer bacteria on your teeth and mouth which is better for your teeth and gums. While many people love the idea of better oral health, there is one connection between the keto diet and oral health that you may not love: keto breath. When keto breath is caused by bacteria in the mouth, it can have an even more unpleasant smell, referred to as "dragon breath." It almost always comes with an unpleasant smell. Even if a diet is working, funky breath is not something most of us want to have.
Causes of Keto Breath
Keto breath occurs when your body has not used all the ketones your liver is producing. As soon as your body begins using these ketones as fuel for muscles and the brain, you will become keto-adapted. Your bad breath will soon disappear once you become keto-adapted. Fortunately, you will not have to deal with keto breath for very long. Most people report that it lasts between a week and a month. You can prevent keto breath by drinking lots of water, maintaining a good oral health routine, and staying calm.
You might want to chew sugarless gum to help with the keto breath in the meantime. Our dentist recommends chewing sugarless gum to help with bacteria build up, but it will also help your keto breath. For more questions, call us today.
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The Keto Diet is all the rage right now. It's no secret that people who follow the popular diet lose weight. Our first concern whenever trendy diets are discussed is how they might impact your oral health. Does the keto diet harm your teeth?