Dr Tamika Ferguson
Brush. Floss.
Rinse. Repeat!
By now we all know the major steps in maintaining our dental health, these being brushing twice a day, flossing at least once daily, regular visits to your dentist and avoiding certain sugary and acidic foods.
While avoiding certain foods is good, adding certain foods to your diet can also help promote oral health. Our oral health is one of the first areas to decline if our diets are less than ideal. Eating tooth friendly foods can now be incorporated into your daily dental care routine.
Cheese
Cheese not only tastes good but is also good for your teeth. It has been reported that eating cheese raises the ph level in an individual’s mouth, therefore lowering their risk of tooth decay. Cheese also contains calcium and protein which are nutrients that strengthen the tooth enamel.
Crunchy fruits
and vegetables
The amount of saliva production in the mouth is very important. An increase in saliva production can create a more alkaline environment which is preferred over an acidic one. The action of eating crunchy fruits and vegetables increases your saliva production, rinsing away bacteria and food particles. Certain fruits such as apples are good for your mouth because they are high in fibre and water. Further, carrots are not only crunchy and full of fibre, but contain vitamin A. Celery is another crunchy vegetable that is recommended. It contains vitamins A and C which help promote the health of your gums. It takes a lot of chewing to break down these foods, but it is worth it because they disturb plaque on the teeth and act as a way to cleanse the mouth.
Yogurt
In order for caries to form, bacteria has to be present. It is important to decrease the amount of bad bacteria in the mouth and increase the amount of beneficial bacteria. The beneficial bacteria found in yogurt crowds out bacteria that can cause decay. Yogurt is also high in calcium and protein which makes it an easy pick to add on the list of tooth-friendly foods. The best type of yogurt to purchase is one with no added sugar.
Vitamin-rich foods
Foods such as leafy greens and almonds should not be a surprise because they usually are on many healthy food lists. These foods are great for your teeth because they are a good source of calcium. Foods rich in calcium and phosphorus can help deposit minerals back into tiny lesions on the tooth caused by acidic foods. Leafy greens, for example kale and spinach, are full of vitamins and minerals while being low in calories. Vitamin-rich foods need to be added to our food list because they keep tooth enamel strong.
Raisins
I know what most of you are thinking, how is it possible for a sweet, sticky snack to promote oral health. Well, raisins contain phytochemicals which fight bacteria causing cavities and gum disease. One of the phytochemicals found in raisins is oleanolic acid which inhibits the growth of two types of oral bacteria: S. mutans and P. gingivalis, which can cause caries and periodontal disease respectively.
When it comes to our teeth, we really are what we eat. So let’s try to incorporate cheese, crunchy fruits and vegetables, yogurt, vitamin-rich foods and raisins into our diets. By managing to eat some of the above listed food and continuing with your daily proper oral care routine, a healthy mouth is guaranteed. Take a bite into these tooth-friendly foods and maintain your oral health!
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