Eating well doesn’t just help you reach your ideal weight or body, it can do wonders all across your body – including your teeth! There are many natural ways to strengthen your teeth, and we’ve compiled a list of the best foods you can incorporate into your diet. Keeping your teeth healthy helps you live longer and affects your whole body in different ways. Our mouths are often the first sign of other issues, so keeping it healthy and strong keeps your whole body strong and ready to fight!
Dairy Products
This was probably your first guess; we all know that milk helps us keep strong bones and teeth because of its calcium. It’s the best drink when it comes to your teeth. It helps lower the acid levels in your mouth, which helps fight off tooth decay.
Cheese is also a great source of calcium with low sugar. It also contains casein, a protein that is useful for fortifying tooth enamel. The calcium helps maintain bone density and its high phosphorus content helps balance pH level in your mouth which can help to preserve tooth enamel. Lastly, cheese is great because it increases saliva production, which helps wash out bacteria in the mouth.
The third dairy option is yogurt. Whether you opt for regular, greek, or flavored, it is packed with calcium and probiotics that protect against cavities, gum disease and bad breath.
Citrus Fruits
This may be a surprise, but oranges are a great way to strengthen your teeth. They are full of vitamin C that helps strengthen the blood vessels and connective tissues in your gums. They also reduce inflammation and slow down gum disease progression. After eating oranges or drinking orange juice, don’t brush right away. Instead, drink some water, the high levels of pH and minerals in the water will reduce acid build up until you can brush later in the day. Plus, no one likes the taste of toothpaste and oranges mixing together.
Fish/Meat
Have you heard that you should be chewing your food a lot, especially when eating meat? Well, that’s to help slow the digestion process down. It also helps your mouth health, chewing meat produces saliva, which decreases acidity in your mouth and washes away particles that may lead to decay. Meat can be very beneficial and it’s also a great source of protein and other nutrients that help you live a healthy life.
Fatty fish like salmon are loaded with phosphorus, an important mineral for protecting tooth enamel. If you are vegan or vegetarian, tofu is a great substitute for this.
Tea/Coffee
Ever heard of polyphenols? They are a category of chemicals that naturally occur in a lot of foods and drinks we consume, including teas and coffee. They have a lot of health benefits, including their main role as antioxidants, which can combat cell damage. They also positively affect inflammation and help fight cancer. Green and black teas are rich in polyphenols.
When drinking coffee make sure to brush your teeth shortly after to ensure you are not staining them over time and they aren’t left with a coffee coating.
Water
The healthiest drink available! Staying hydrated is crucial to helping our bodies stay healthy, have energy and feel okay throughout the day. Our bodies are made of 60% water, and staying hydrated helps your body distribute healthy nutrients, get rid of waste, and keep your skin glowing. Drinking water with fluoride is one of the best things you can do to prevent cavities; it is often referred to as “nature’s cavity fighter.” Water helps wash away food particles and keeps your saliva levels high. Water keeps us moving and is necessary to operate day after day.
Nuts
Nuts are a great snack and provide a lot of benefits for your health. Whether they are enjoyed in trail mix or eaten straight – did you know they help protect your teeth? The best choice is to eat them plain or with a little bit of added salt or sugar. They are chock full of important elements like calcium and phosphorus. Almonds and cashews lead the pack for the best nut option, and help fight bacteria that leads to tooth decay. Peanuts are also a great source of Vitamin D and Calcium. Cashews are known to stimulate saliva and walnuts contain fiber, iron, folic acid, magnesium, zinc, vitamin E, vitamin B6, and potassium. Nuts are a great snack compared to sugary candies or carb heavy foods.
Eating foods from the list above are great to minimize the amount of time your teeth are exposed to acid. If you are a snacker, opt for some carrots or a piece of cheese instead of a chocolate bar or some chips. Foods that are eaten as part of a meal cause less harm than eating snacks throughout the day because more saliva is released during a meal. Everything is about moderation, so make sure you are eating healthy but also eating the food you love. Healthy eating helps maintain healthy teeth!
If you have questions about your teeth or want to learn more about healthy foods call us today and set up an appointment. You can also check out our website for more information on our services, and see some positive customer reviews. As always, make sure you keep brushing those teeth!