By making healthy dietary choices every day, you can reduce your risk of developing tooth loss, cavities, and gum disease. It can be simpler to shop for groceries and choose nutritious snacks for the family if you know which foods are ideal for strengthening your teeth.
We spoke to renowned dentist Dr. Werb who told us that generally speaking, natural, unpackaged, unprocessed, and unsweetened meals are the greatest for maintaining healthy teeth. You can eat everything you can chose! However, there are still additional nutritious meals, including whole grains and dairy items, that are fantastic for your body and smile. The same balanced diet of nutrient-rich foods that is beneficial to the body is usually also good for your teeth. If you’re unsure of what foods are best for your teeth, keep in mind that if it’s “bad” for your health, it’s definitely “bad” for your smile as well.
Foods That Strengthen Teeth
Foods for strong teeth usually demand more forceful biting and chewing. They are more rigid, fibrous, and occasionally crunchy. Finding foods that are terrible for teeth, like processed meals, foods with artificial sweeteners, and foods with a lot of preservatives, is the first step in choosing foods that are good for teeth.
Even some dietitians and nutritionists will advise you to buy foods from the border of the supermarket (rather than the manufactured ones you’ll find all along the aisles), which includes the meat, dairy, and fruit sections. Of course, there are a few exceptions! You may give yourself a head start on maintaining your smile’s health for the remainder of your life by balancing foods that strengthen your teeth with excellent oral hygiene.
- Cheeses and yogurt – Calcium is essential for the growth of strong bones and teeth. Just like fluoride, calcium is essential for healthy teeth. And what foods are the richest sources of calcium? dairy goods! Additionally, strong cheeses (like cheddar) can balance out acidic pH levels to support a cleaner oral environment and lower your risk of tooth decay. Greek yogurts that are basic and sugar-free are typically the finest for your dental enamel if you love yogurt. By encouraging balanced amounts of beneficial bacteria and eliminating the harmful ones, the natural probiotics present in yogurt can also help to stabilize the levels of healthy oral flora in your mouth.
- Carrots – The act of physically biting and crunching a carrot stimulates the gum tissues. While you consume them, they physically remove plaque from your teeth. They also contain a lot of keratin, which is important for maintaining gums, healthy skin, and teeth. Additionally, carrots contain various distinct forms of vitamin B, that also promotes the health of the gums.
- Leafy Greens – Fresh leafy greens are an excellent source of calcium and include folic acid, which can aid in the prevention of gum disease. Leafy greens assist you to reduce your risk of cavities while also naturally lowering plaque levels in your mouth by strengthening your teeth. Produce like Swiss chard and lettuce typically has a higher natural fluoride level (a natural mineral.) Kale, broccoli, and collard greens are the foods with the most calcium. Although some greens are ideally consumed raw, cooking them will still provide you with a wealth of nutritional advantages.
- Apples – Similar to carrots, apples stimulate your gums and teeth with crisp, fibrous textures, which helps to prevent plaque development in your mouth. Apples are a wise choice if you’re seeking for a meal that is both portable and healthy for your teeth. The crunching and chewing motions when you consume an apple or other fruit or vegetable also cause saliva to be produced. Additionally, more saliva neutralizes acids, eliminates bacteria, and generally results in decreased rates of tooth decay.
- Green tea – You don’t necessarily have to eat items that strengthen your teeth. Additionally, they may be a beverage! One illustration is green tea. It has natural antibacterial components that reduce and may even eliminate the harmful microorganisms that result in tooth decay and gum disease. Green tea also contains naturally occurring fluoride, which strengthens brittle tooth enamel and slows the decay process. Just be aware that green tea includes tannins as well, which may cause teeth stains.
- Lean Protein – Phosphorus, which is beneficial for teeth, is present in foods like fish, chicken, eggs, and other protein-rich foods. Bonus: Omega-3 fatty acids, as these are abundant in fish, can help strengthen your mouth’s defenses against periodontal diseases and tissue abrasion. During gum disease treatments, eating fish or consuming an omega-3 supplement may promote faster gum healing. Salmon, mackerel, and cod liver oil are a few of the fish items having the greatest concentrations of omega-3 fatty acids.
- Seeds And Nuts – The omega-3 fatty acids found in foods like pumpkin seeds, walnuts, flaxseed and peanuts, (especially flaxseed oil) support healthy gum tissues and stave off periodontal disease. They also have fiber in them. They also benefit your heart and therefore can lower “bad” cholesterol, which is a bonus. Try to avoid using candied or flavored nuts and instead choose for dry-roasted, plain, or mildly salted varieties. You don’t want to use additional sweets or sugar to undo the positive effects they have.
- Chocolate – Some chocolates are healthier for your teeth than others, while not all chocolate is good for your teeth. A good example is dark chocolate. Dark chocolate sweets typically have less sugar. But because it is also regarded as a natural antioxidant, dark chocolate is often referred to be a “superfood.” It is believed that the intricate chemical makeup of dark chocolate can aid with everything from cancer prevention to weight loss.
To summarize
Among the most crucial things you’ll ever consume isn’t even food; it’s a beverage. When it comes to oral treatment, water consumption is essential. Even if you consume healthy foods but poor drinking habits, tooth rot might still worsen.
Water should be your main beverage of choice. Other drinks, including as milk and juice, contain natural or manufactured sugars that may affect the development of plaque and acids. However, water is a natural lubricant and cleanser, making it essential for preventing tooth decay and dry mouth (xerostomia).