There is a lot of advice surrounding dental care. There are many articles containing all of the tips to take care of your teeth and gums, including all of the foods you should avoid in order to take care of your teeth. However, are there any foods that are good for your oral health? It seems like every article is just saying avoid this, avoid that! This article will give you suggestions for foods you can add to your diet to improve your oral health.
Dairy Products (Milk, Cheese, Yoghurt)
Dairy products are really good when it comes to improving the strength in your teeth, as they include a lot of calcium. This really strengthens your teeth and improves the health of them constantly. Cheese is really good as it is low in sugar, which can cause tooth decay. Cheese also has a high phosphate content, which helps to balance PH levels in the mouth. This can preserve the enamel on your teeth. Milk is great for your teeth, as like cheese, it’s calcium rich and can lower acid levels in your mouth. While some yoghurt has sugar in it, they often also have probiotics which can prevent cavities and aid bad breath.
Cranberries and Raisins
Cranberries have a high polyphenol content, which provides antioxidants which can help the
bacteria in your teeth. This is especially true for fresh cranberries, as dried cranberries can have a high sugar content, which is bad for tooth decay. Some have suggested in the past that raisins can cause cavities, however research has shown that they have oleanolic acid in them, which prevents bacteria that can be related to decay. This chemical can also reduce the likelihood for gum disease.
Strawberries and Other Berries
Strawberries and other fresh berries are extremely high in vitamin C. This means not only are they good for your body, the vitamin can also have antioxidant properties, which can improve the PH in your mouth. This vitamin also strengthens your bones and teeth. These are a great thing to snack on if you want to have a healthy heart and mouth.
Sweet Potatoes
Sweet potatoes are rich in Vitamin A. This helps to preserve your gums, and it is also vital in the production of the protein keratin. Keratin is significant in promoting the production of enamel on your teeth, which can make your teeth more protected against tooth decay.
Leafy Greens
Leafy greens such as kale and lettuce are rich in calcium. This is great for your teeth. They also include high amounts of folic acid, which your teeth need to stay healthy.
Hard, Fibrous Fruits
Fruits such as pears and apples, can help to clean your teeth and increase the amount of saliva in your mouth. This is good as it helps to balance the PH of your mouth. Furthermore, chewing strong fruits can stimulate your gums, which is great for your teeth.
Nuts
Nuts have many health benefits for your teeth. They are filled with lots of vitamins good for your teeth, like the all important calcium. They also include phosphorus. This helps fight the bacteria that leads to tooth decay. Some nuts contain vitamin D, which is good for your skin as well as your dental health. Other vitamins such as zinc, iron and folic acid are also present in many nuts. They are great for your teeth- just mind that you don’t crack a tooth on them!
Meat
Most meats are high in protein, which is great for the strength of your teeth. There are also many vitamins in many meats which can strengthen your teeth and gums. Chewing meat also produces salvia, which is key to balancing the PH in your mouth. Red meats are particularly beneficial as they are rich in iron.
Fatty Fish
Fatty Fish is a great food item to incorporate into your diet for your dental health, salmon in particular. This is because they are high in phosphorus, which as aforementioned, is a great protector of tooth enamel. Omega 3 is also a great vitamin for protecting your teeth and gums, which is rich in a lot of fish.
Kiwi
Like the other fruits mentioned, kiwi is rich in Vitamin C, which is amazing for your teeth and body. Vitamin C helps your body fight against infection and bad bacteria, which can be really good for your oral health. They taste great too!
Broccoli
Broccoli can naturally clean your teeth, and like kiwi, is rich in Vitamin C. If you haven’t noticed a pattern yet, foods that are rich in vitamin C are really good for your dental health. Up your vitamin C intake to really see a difference in your oral health.
Onions and Garlic
They smell great when cooked in oil, but might not initially be thought of when you think of dental health. They are certainly not great for your breath! However, both onions and garlic have antibacterial properties which can fight against tooth decay. The antimicrobial properties of both of these also could fight against disease of the mouth, such as gingivitis.
Brown Bread and Rice
While other carbohydrates such as white bread can stick to your teeth and create cavities, brown bread and rice don’t have this same problem. It doesn’t give the bacteria food to grow in your mouth. Furthermore, they give you plenty of nutrients that will make your teeth healthy.
Water
If you’re looking for a good drink for your dental health, water is by far the best one. Drinking water throughout your day can help flush away sugar sticking to your teeth, and stimulates saliva production. Drinking water also helps your body distribute nutrients throughout your body, which is great for your dental health. Water with fluoride can also strengthen your teeth massively.
Tea and Coffee
This can be a surprising suggestion because most dental health articles warn against tea and coffee because they often cause bad staining! However, both tea and coffee contain polyphenols, which have many health benefits. They can reduce inflammation and bacteria in the gums and mouth. Drinking tea and coffee in moderation might actually help with your dental health.
If you’re having a bit of trouble with your dental health, combining a diet rich in these foods with a thorough cleaning regimen can help you massively. Many people also have issues with the look of their teeth, and are considering getting work such as full dental implants or braces to combat these issues. Make sure you’re keeping your teeth as healthy as you can, and do your research to find the best dentist for you in your area. Your smile is important, and it’s necessary to take care of it as much as you can.