Good Food for Teeth
Brushing your teeth, flossing regularly, and visiting our Newport Beach dentist every six months are all great ways to keep your smile healthy. But have you ever stopped to consider what the foods that you eat do to your teeth? Your dental problems could be directly affected by your diet.
Types of Food Good for Teeth
To ensure optimal oral health, you should be consuming the following types of foods:
Sugar-Free Options – Consuming too much sugar can cause a severe amount of tooth decay that can lead to tooth loss. When possible, cutting back on your sugar intake will improve your oral health. Limit chocolates, cakes, ice cream, or opt for the sugar-free version when possible.
Leafy Greens – Leafy greens like kale and spinach are full of vitamins and minerals, which help promote good overall wellness, including your oral health. Leafy greens can be high in calcium, which helps build strong tooth enamel. They also contain folic acid and vitamin B, which have numerous health benefits.
Fruits and Veggies That Are High in Fiber – According to the American Dental Association, foods that contain fiber are great for keeping your teeth and gums clean. Fiber also gets your saliva flowing, which helps clean your mouth and reduces your chances of developing tooth decay and bad breath.
Food and Drinks Containing Fluoride – Fluoride has been proven to fight dental decay. These days you can find fluoride in many foods and drinks like water, powdered juices, dehydrated soups, and cereal.
Specific Food Good for Teeth
Here are some more specific examples of good food for teeth:
Cheese, Yogurt, Milk, and Other Dairy Products – Chewing cheese causes you to produce more saliva and when your mouth is moist it’s more likely to flush away germs and bacteria that can affect your teeth. Cheese, milk, and other dairy products also contain calcium and protein which strengthens tooth enamel.
Yogurt contains good bacteria known as probiotics, which overpower the bad bacteria that cause tooth decay. When adding yogurt to your diet make sure that you’re choosing a sugar-free product.
Almonds – If you’re not a fan of cheese or yogurt, then you can try almonds to get the same benefits of calcium and protein. Some clever ways to add almonds into your diet is to put them in a salad or have almond milk with your cereal.
Green Tea and Black Tea – Both green and black teas contain polyphenols that interact with plaque bacteria by killing or blocking them, which prevents cavities from developing. These types of teas can be served either hot or cold so try them out and choose your favorite.
Apples – If you like your sweets, then consuming fruits like apples might just satisfy your sweet tooth. Apples are high in fiber and water. Chewing apples produces a lot of saliva in your mouth, which rinses away bacteria and food particles. Being hard, apples are also great for scrubbing your teeth clean and helps to keep them healthy.
Carrots – Adding carrots into your diet is a great way to get some crunchy fiber and vitamin A. Like apples, you can expect a high production of saliva from chewing carrots. As a side bonus, carrots are good for your vision too.
Celery – Celery, you either love it or you hate it but regardless, this crunchy, stringy food is like having your own toothbrush and floss in one. Along with providing you with a good source of vitamins A and C, you’ll benefit from a good tooth scrubbing from the hard texture, and a good flossing from the strings in it. Now that’s multi-tasking!
Other Tips for Healthy Teeth and Gums
Though there are a lot of foods and drinks that can help clean your teeth and gums, increase your saliva production, and help prevent cavities, there is no replacement for brushing and flossing. In addition to doing your best in the oral hygiene department at home, visiting our Newport Beach dentist every six months for a professional cleaning will allow us to remove any plaque and tartar buildup that was left behind in those hard to reach areas.
During your visits, we also take periodic x-rays to check for cavities or other dental issues that might require our intervention. We’re here to help you with all your dental care needs. Together we can ensure that your mouth stays as healthy as possible. If it’s time for you to come in for a cleaning, then come visit The Center For Restorative & Cosmetic Dentistry. Our Newport Beach dentist, Dr. Desiree Yazdan and the rest of our team look forward to seeing you. Call today to schedule an appointment!
About Dr. Yazdan
