The foods that you eat on a regular basis will have a substantial impact on the health of the teeth. When you regularly consume high levels of sugar and acidic foods, you are far more likely to suffer from oral health problems, such as cavities. Though it is important to avoid these harmful foods, there are alternative foods that can actually improve your oral health and protect your teeth. Here are some of the best foods to add to your diet in order to improve your oral health.
Important Foods to Avoid
There are many foods that can be incredibly detrimental to the health of the teeth. Avoiding these foods is likely one of the best ways to protect the health of your teeth. It is important to avoid sugar as much as possible, because sugar can cause incredible amounts of damage to your teeth. This means avoiding exceptionally sugary foods, such as candy, cake, and many other substances. It is also important to take care when it comes to particularly sticky foods. These foods often stick to the surface of the teeth and can be rather difficult to remove. Accumulated food particles often contribute to plaque, bacteria, and many additional issues.
Watch what you Drink
Many of the beverages that you drink on a regular basis impact your overall oral health. It is likely that you don’t even pay that much attention when you are drinking these beverages. Beverages that contain high levels of sugar, such as soda, alcohol, juice, and many other varieties, tend to cause damage to the teeth. This damage is only escalated when you consistently sip on these beverages throughout the day.
Every time you sip your soda, the acid attack on your teeth renews. If you can’t completely cut soda out of your diet, it can minimize damage when you simply drink it all at one time. Using straws can help to direct soda streams away from your teeth. Drinking more water can also benefit your teeth. Not only will this prevent the likelihood of drinking more harmful substances, but it can also help to flush out harmful particles from your teeth.
Chew Sugar Free Gum
Chewing gum can go a long way toward preventing you from eating foods that can be more harmful to your teeth. It also helps to increase saliva production and flush harmful particles from the teeth. However, it is integral to ensure that the gum doesn’t contain sugar. Otherwise, you are simply adding more sugar to your teeth, which will cause even more damage to the teeth.
Cheese
Dairy products can often be used to improve the health and strength of the teeth. Cheese is often one of the best dairy-related foods to add to your diet and improve your oral health. In general, cheese helps to neutralize acids in the mouth and restore the pH in the mouth to a more neutral balance. Cheese also contains high levels of protein and calcium. These nutrients help to strengthen the teeth. They also provide remineralization processes, which can strengthen the overall enamel layer of the teeth, which helps to protect it.
Fish
No matter how much calcium you consume, it won’t do you much good if your body doesn’t effectively absorb the calcium. This is where fish can be incredibly beneficial. Fish is a great source of vitamin D, which helps the body to absorb calcium more effectively. It is similarly important to remember that meat tends to contain high levels of protein, which also help to strengthen the teeth. Due to this, chicken and other kinds of meat can also be helpful to protect your oral health.
Celery
Celery is a vegetable that can provide many health benefits. It is incredibly crunchy, which helps it to act similarly to a toothbrush. When it scrubs against the teeth, it helps to dislodge food particles. In addition to this, celery is a rather good source of both vitamin C and A. These vitamins are antioxidants that can go a long way toward improving gum health.
Yogurt
Yogurt is another dairy product that can substantially improve your oral health. For one thing, yogurt can substantially improve the health of your gums. Yogurt is one of the best sources of probiotics, which can be thought of as beneficial bacteria. These bacteria help to fight the negative bacteria that lead to gum disease. In addition, yogurt contains both protein and calcium that can substantially improve the health of the teeth, by strengthening them and remineralizing their enamel layer. Ensure that you choose a plain variety of yogurt that doesn’t contain added sugar to prevent further damage to your teeth.
Green Veggies
Dark, green and leafy vegetables are incredibly high in calcium. These ensure that they help to remineralize the teeth, which goes a long way toward protecting the enamel layer that defends the sensitive inner layer of the teeth. When you add these vegetables to your diet, you are very likely to see an array of health benefits, especially when it comes to your smile.
Crunchy Fruits
Some fruits can be damaging to the health of your teeth. Others can be exceptionally beneficial. For example, eating too many citrus fruits that contain acidic juices can contribute to tooth decay. However, certain crunchy fruits, like apples or pears, can be beneficial to your teeth. They contain high amounts of water, which aids in flushing out food particles and buffering acid. Additionally, the crunchy textures scrub against the teeth, which can dislodge trapped food particles.
Here at the Oral Health Center, our dedicated team is able to provide a broad array of services to protect the health of your teeth. Your nutrition has a huge impact on your oral health, so it is important to add healthy foods to your diet to improve your health. It is also important to regularly care for your teeth and visit your dentist for cleanings on a regular basis. To learn more about our services and how to improve your oral health, contact our experts at the Oral Health Center today!
