Best Foods For Healthy Teeth

You know that what you eat affects your overall health, so it shouldn’t be a surprise that it affects your oral health. And just as you can be careful about what you eat to have a healthy heart or skin, you can try to include these foods in your diet to have healthy teeth.

Cheese

Not only does cheese contain a good amount of calcium and protein – nutrients that strengthen tooth enamel – but a study published in the journal of the American Academy of General Dentistry found that eating cheese increased the mouth’s pH, lowering the risk of tooth decay. It is believed that the chewing required to eat cheese increases saliva production in the mouth.

Yogurt

As with cheese, yogurt is very high in calcium and protein, making it a great choice for teeth health. Additionally, the probiotics (beneficial bacteria) that yogurt contains benefit the gums because it crowds out bacteria that cause cavities. When choosing your yogurt, make sure you go for a plain variety with no added sugar.

Leafy greens

You’ve probably been advised already to include leafy greens in your diet. One more reason to do so is that they’re full of vitamins and minerals (and low in calories) that can promote oral health. They’re also high in calcium, an important factor in building strong teeth, and they contain folic acid, a type of B vitamin that can treat gum disease in pregnant women.

Apples

Yes, apples and other fruits contain sugars, but they are natural sugars, which are not as harmful to your health as added sugars in junk food. They’re also high in fiber and water. An added benefit to eating apples over other fruits is that the action of eating the apple produces saliva in the mouth, which helps to rinse away bacteria and food particles, and the fibrous texture of the apple stimulates the gums.

Carrots

Similar to apples, carrots are crunchy and full of fiber. They are also a great source of vitamin A.

Celery

Though it’s not exactly known as a tasty snack, celery is healthy. Like carrots and apples, the fibrous texture of celery acts a little like a toothbrush to scrape small food particles and bacteria away from the teeth. It is also a good source of vitamins A and C, which are antioxidants that give a boost to your gum health.

Incorporating just a few of these items into your diet can aid oral health.