You see videos on TikTok and Instagram all the time about diet secrets. Not only do you need to worry about whether they actually work for weight loss, but some fads can cause oral health issues! Which diet trends are harmful for your smile? What can you do to protect your mouth while you shed weight? Read on to find out!

Your senses of taste and smell do much more than simply make food enjoyable. They help form memories, influence emotions, connect you to loved ones, and even protect your health. These two senses are deeply intertwined—so much so that about 80% of what we perceive as taste actually comes from our sense of smell.

When your sense of smell is impaired—such as during a cold, sinus infection, or even after a COVID-19 infection—your food may taste bland or unappealing. That’s because smell and taste work hand in hand to create what we know as “flavor.” As you chew, your teeth and saliva break down food, releasing chemicals that stimulate taste buds. Simultaneously, these chemicals also travel to olfactory receptors in the nose. This dual input allows us to fully experience flavor. Try holding your nose while eating—you’ll still register sweetness or saltiness, but the flavor will feel muted.

Beyond just flavor, other receptors in your mouth and throat register sensations like heat from spicy foods or the cooling from mint or eucalyptus. Altogether, multiple sensory pathways work together to shape the experience of eating and drinking.