You probably know that brushing, flossing, and visiting the dentist regularly are crucial to your oral health. But your diet has more of an impact on your smile than you may realize. Foods like candy and those with a lot of acids can increase the impact of tooth decay. But the following foods help to keep your smile healthy.
Fresh Fruits and Vegetables
Fresh fruits and vegetables are great for your whole body, not just your oral health. Many raw fruits and vegetables are filled with water and various nutrients. Carrots especially contain a lot of vitamin C, calcium, and keratins. All of these things are especially great for your teeth.
May fresh fruits and vegetables are hard and fibrous. They take a lot of chewing to break down and digest. The more you chew on something, the more saliva is released into your mouth. Saliva is essential for washing away bacteria and food particles from your teeth. Celery is the closest thing you can get to natural dental floss, getting between your teeth to clean things out.
Water
Hands down, water is the best beverage for you to drink. It assists saliva in washing away harmful bacteria and food particles from your smile. It doesn’t stain your teeth and it doesn’t have any things like sugar or acid to cause problems with your teeth.
If you’re drinking tap water in the United States, you also probably have the benefit of fluoride. Most water has a supplemental amount of fluoride in it. Fluoride strengthens the enamel on teeth, making them stand up better to tooth decay and other problems.
Dairy
Aside from water, milk is the best thing you can drink for your teeth. It has a lot of calcium and other elements that help strengthen your teeth. Calcium in particular is crucial for increasing bone density. Milk can also lower the amount of acid in your mouth, with helps to fight tooth decay.
Cheese also reduces the acid level in your mouth and contains important elements. When you chew it, it acts like fresh produce in that it produces more saliva. Like other dairy products, yogurt is high in calcium as well. But it’s also rich in probiotics, which help to protect you against gum disease and even bad breath.
Nuts
There are so many different nut varieties and all of them contain different nutrients. Almonds, Brazil nuts, and cashews are some of the best ones when it comes to your teeth. They help fight off the bacteria that cause tooth decay and gum disease. Peanuts and walnuts also help to stimulate saliva and contain a variety of nutrients.
Sugar-Free Gum
Gum that’s saturated with sugar isn’t the best for your teeth. But sugar-free gum is actually beneficial. You’re constantly chewing and the texture of the gum helps to clean out between teeth and other hard-to-reach areas. Saliva production is increased the whole time you’re chewing gum as well.
Schedule an Appointment
At Baltimore Dental Co., your Glyndon, MD dentist can help you create a dietary plan that’s ideal for your oral health. Call us or schedule an appointment online.