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High protien diet and dental tartar

Dayna154
Dayna154 Posts: 910 Member
edited November 2024 in Social Groups
I searched and didn’t see a topic for this.
I recently had my teeth cleaned and the hygienist asked about any changes in my life so I told her about eating a low carb diet (doc orders) and she told me that the LC diet explained why I was suddenly getting so much more tartar on my teeth.
Apparently, a LC (high protein diet) causes tartar to grow on teeth quicker. It was something she learned when her mother went on Atkins years before.
Has anyone else heard or known about this?
Does anyone have any suggestions to help prevent it other than brushing/flossing more or getting cleanings more often?
I am at a point I’m going in every 3 months. I have insurance but they won’t cover that many visits and if I do a LC lifestyle from now on that could get expensive in the long run.
Just seeing if anyone else has heard of this or has any ideas..
thanks
:bigsmile:

Replies

  • rsouthland
    rsouthland Posts: 75
    I guess I've never thought about it. I attribute most of my dental challenges with coffee and its inevitable staining. Haven't heard your dentists theory.
  • Dayna154
    Dayna154 Posts: 910 Member
    I had never heard this before either so that is why I thought I'd ask here since there is so much more of a wider audience..
  • manda1028
    manda1028 Posts: 148
    soo weird to me. we have eliminated sugar...lol the only thing i can think of would possibly be arificial sweetners taking a toll on teeth.. but i dont think many of us over do the sweeteners ? just the only thought that comes into my mind .
  • Dayna154
    Dayna154 Posts: 910 Member
    I dont care for the taste of them so I do VERY little of them if any at all.. So I dont think thats it either
  • manda1028
    manda1028 Posts: 148
    its gotta be the meat then ;) kidding. im going to google this and see if i can get info becuz i am very picky about my teeth
  • manda1028
    manda1028 Posts: 148
    this is what i read :

    1 explanation.. hmm,
    starches give you the soft tartar, as she explained, and low carb calcifications are hard.

    another thing i read twice which sounds weird, but i guess the dentists have said becuz LCers arent eating grains that naturally scrape the teeth... weird.

    and finally being in ketosis makes calcium levels higher
  • dennydifferent
    dennydifferent Posts: 135 Member
    From a bit of Googling (and some very technical language) it seems to be caused by increased acidity in the mouth. This in turn is caused by eating high protein, and I suspect specifically high animal protein. It doesn't seem to happen to everyone, but is a definite side-effect in some people.

    I wonder if an Arm & Hammer type toothpaste with soda in it may help? I'm totally making a guess here, but we're wanting to reduce acidity and soda is alkaline. Or just cut down on meat, and fish, or eat fattier cuts. Hope that helps.
  • Dayna154
    Dayna154 Posts: 910 Member
    Thanks for the information.
    I use a different tooth paste but have found that if I add arm and hammer it helps to clear off the tartar. It builds so quickly at times though. Im hoping to have it ease off after a while.. If not then I will just keep going to get my teeth cleaned more often.
    I have found that my teeth look real good since adding the A&H... :bigsmile: :blushing:
  • Marll
    Marll Posts: 904 Member
    Start supplementing with Vitamin K2 Mk4, Menatetrenone and you'll notice a decrease in plaque build up. This is also known as Activator X, do a bit of searching and you'll see the great dental benefits of this overlooked, and not often consumed in Western societies, vitamin.
  • ganesha303
    ganesha303 Posts: 257 Member
    I was at the dentist last week and they said my teeth had never looked better between cleanings. I do floss daily though so that probably more than offsets anything high protein causes in that regard.
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