Hello Nigerians, it is trendy and real. Keto-compliant diet or ketogenic diet which is an effective, tested, confirmed and recent way to lose excess body weight and improve the overall health. Losing weight is most common challenge among individuals in the recent time. Exercising regularly, diet control have been tried but a recent way is through KETOGENIC DIET which is becoming more popular. It is a kind of restricted and tailored diet that contain principally LOW CARBOHYDRATES (from low starch vegetables, leafy greens and cruciferous vegetables), HIGH FATS (high quality plant and animal-based fats) & MODERATE PROTEINS.

Summarily, keto diet work on the principle that your body can change its main source of energy from carbohydrates to fat. Once the body does not get adequate carbohydrates, the system is automatically forced to switch the source of energy/fuel to fat. These provide a new fuel or energy source for your body, and cause most of the unique health benefits of this diet. On a ketogenic diet, your body undergoes many biological adjustments and adaptions, including a reduction in insulin and increased fat breakdown. When this occurs, the liver then starts to produce large amounts of KETONES to act as source of energy supply for your brain. If this dietary habit is sustained for a period of time, KETONES levels in the blood will be raised and one will soon be in KETOSIS.

There is no doubt that what we consume have either benefiting or damaging effects on our teeth and a ketogenic diet is no exception to influencing dental health. These are Seven (7) ways keto-compliant diet affects your teeth. Eat the diet with great relish, shed excess weight and still have your teeth intact.

1. KETO DIET=LOW/NO CARBS- Principally LOW CARBOHYDRATES from low starch vegetables, leafy greens and vegetables.

-DENTAL EFFECT–NO ACID FORMATION- It has been shown that sugar or sugar containing foods promote disease causing bacteria within the mouth. This is because Carbohydrates serves as substrates for the bacteria to act upon and produce acids which result in dissolution of the teeth substance leading to tooth decay. This means that low carb diets will lead to a much healthier mouth in the long run because it prevents tartar build-up and holes on the teeth.
2. KETO DIET=KETOSIS- It encourages the breakdown of fat stored for energy instead of glucose, a process known as ketosis or dietary ketosis. This process of ketosis signals your body to burn the available fat for fuel instead of carbohydrates that it naturally chooses to burn first. When this occurs, the liver then starts to produce large amounts of KETONES to act as source of energy supply for your brain. If this dietary habit is sustained for a period of time, KETONES levels in the blood will be raised and one will soon be in KETOSIS.

-DENTAL EFFECT- BAD BREATH AT EARLY STAGE- Restricted carbohydrate intake also may have a negative effect on the oral cavity. While ketosis provides the benefit of rapid weight loss, it also leads to halitosis (chronic bad breath) or fruity-smelling breath. The breakdown of fats by enzymes results in three different smaller units called ketones, acetoacetate and ß-hydroxybutyrate. The last two (acetoacetate and ß-hydroxybutyrate) can be used to generate energy by most tissues in the body. The third ketone, acetone, cannot be used by the body and is excreted in the urine and exhaled by the lungs, causing halitosis (bad breath). While the resulting chronic bad breath causes no harm to your oral health, it can be especially annoying when you’re in close contacts with others. This breath is actually a positive sign for your diet though it may affect your social interaction. Many ketogenic dieters brush their teeth several times per day, or use sugar-free gum or sucking on mints that contain xylitol to solve the issue.
Fear not, all you need do is to drink plenty of water which will help to weaken the stench by diluting the concentration of the fruity smell. You can also mask the smell with chewing of sugarless gum e.g. orbit, Mentos & xylitol. Perhaps, your halitosis is too difficult to manage, the best option for you is to increase your carbohydrate intake and exiting the state of ketosis may be.


3. KETO DIET= WATER + LEMON- It is often advised that water is simply the base of what you should drink on a keto diet (or any other diet). If you would like some taste when drinking your water you can add a few drops of lemon.

-DENTAL EFFECT- TEETH SENSITIVITY- Plain water is very good to the teeth. A squeeze of lemon or lime can turn a simple glass of water into a fun beverage, however it is not always the best choice for your mouth. Lemon is acidic and it can make the teeth to become sensitive over time.

4. KETO DIET=COFFEE AND TEA- you can drink as much coffee and tea as you want on a keto diet. Coffee contains a very small amount of carbohydrate. It is so small so you do not really need to worry about it. Tea usually contains no carbohydrate at all. There is however some types of tea that contains some carbohydrates so try to check it before you have some.

-DENTAL EFFECT-TEETH DISCOLOURATION- Tea and coffee frequent consumption often cause generalised dark or brown stains called extrinsic/ external teeth discolouration.
READ MORE http://dentalchannel.com.ng/2017/06/25/seven-7-ways-keto-compliant-diet-affects-your-teeth/