Brushing every day using fluoride toothpaste and flossing are crucial to maintaining a healthy smile. However, not many people know about the effects of nutrition and food on one’s dental health. Eating various nutritional foods promotes healthier teeth and gums.
The difference between having a healthy smile and going to the dentist is heavily influenced by the type of food you eat. As advised by dental clinics, follow a balanced eating plan, including the following foods for optimal oral health.
Dairy Products
The best type of food for optimal teeth health is dairy products like cheese. It’s one of the best foods for ensuring healthy teeth for several reasons:
- Cheese is low in sugar and packed with calcium, making it a great snack option to maintain bone density.
- It contains casein, a protein responsible for fortifying tooth enamel. It’s also high in phosphate, helping balance pH levels in the mouth, further preserving tooth enamel.
- Cheese can increase saliva production, washing away bacteria in the mouth.
Besides cheese, dairy products like yogurt and milk are excellent choices for preserving teeth health as they’re rich in calcium and other crucial elements. Plus, these two can lower acid levels in the mouth, help fight tooth decay. Additionally, yogurt contains high probiotics levels, helping you fight against gum diseases and bad breath, making them excellent food choices.
Crunchy Vegetables
Most vegetables can do wonders for one’s teeth since they require lots of chewing, cleaning the teeth’ surfaces. Crunchy or firm foods with lots of water content are the best natural teeth cleaners available, helping stimulate saliva flow while scrubbing away food particles and bacteria. Plus, these fresh and crunchy vegetables are filled with essential minerals and vitamins that keep your teeth healthy and thriving.
The best crunchy vegetable is celery, and it’s the closest thing to natural dental floss as its crunchy and fibrous texture makes it the perfect natural teeth cleaner. Carrots are also an excellent choice as they contain a decent amount of vitamin C and are super crunchy, leading to increased saliva flow.
Nuts
Regardless of the kind you eat, nuts are packed with benefits for your teeth, boasting tons of elements like calcium and phosphorus. However, the most beneficial nuts for your teeth are almonds, Brazil nuts, and cashews, helping fight bacteria, preventing tooth decay. For instance, peanuts are excellent calcium and vitamin D sources, while almonds are rich in calcium, all beneficial to the teeth and gums.
So instead of indulging in conventional chips, go for nuts.
Meats and Fatty Fish
Most meats provide some essential nutrients crucial in maintaining the optimal condition of one’s teeth, and chewing fatty meat produces saliva, which is always a good thing. That’s because it can decrease acidity inside your mouth, washing away any food particles that cause tooth decay. The best types of meat are red meat and organs. Plus, fatty fish like salmon are rich in phosphorus, a vital mineral protecting tooth enamel.
Vitamin C Rich Berries
Vitamin C is generally good for the body thanks to its antioxidant properties, promoting optimal growth and repair of tissues in every part of your body—including your teeth. The collagen found in the dentin of teeth heavily relies on vitamin C to retain its strength and structure. That’s why munching on vitamin c rich berries like strawberries is a great way to keep your teeth healthy and glowing.
Make sure to add plenty of vitamin c rich berries to your diet for the best results over time.
Garlic and Onion
Although garlic and onion aren’t the best for your breath, the allicin contained in garlic possesses strong antimicrobial properties, helping you fight tooth decay, especially for individuals suffering from periodontal disease. However, remember that it isn’t the best for your breath. Meanwhile, when you eat raw onions, their powerful antibacterial properties, especially against bacteria that cause cavities and gum disease, prove useful.
Whole Grains
Although simple carbohydrates do get stuck in your teeth, contributing to cavities, that isn’t the case for whole gains. Whether it’s whole bread, pasta, or brown rice, these are healthier choices and don’t get stuck in your teeth as they’re made up of complex carbohydrates, giving bacteria less digestible food for them to grow. Besides that, they also offer other nutrients that can help your teeth and gums stay healthy.
Even if you have a great oral hygiene routine, it can still be challenging to keep your teeth healthy over time. Eating nutrient-rich foods across all food groups promotes healthier teeth—and those mentioned can help you get off to a great start.
