When we think about our favourite food and drink, the effect it will have on our teeth and breath probably isn’t something that crosses our minds. But maybe it should be. The food and drink we put in our mouths can have a direct impact on our oral health, which can affect how much we smile, and also our breath. Here are some foods that will make your teeth stronger and your smile healthier:
Some of the Best Food for Teeth
Yogurt and cheese
If you love your dairy foods, you can rejoice in knowing that yogurt and cheese can be great for oral health. The American Academy of General Dentistry cited a report from EurekAlert! that shows eating cheese can lower the pH in your mouth, lowering your risk of tooth decay. Both of these are high in calcium and protein, which is essential for strong teeth.
Apples
Apples and other fruits might be sweet, but they also have a lot of fibre and water. Eating apples create more saliva, which helps to wash away bacteria and food particles. The fibrous texture of the apple can also help to stimulate the gums. Foods that are firm, crunchy, and high in water like apples, carrots, cucumbers, and celery can also act as a mild abrasive, removing bacteria and food debris from a tooth’s surface.
Salmon
Salmon is a food the is packed full of vitamin D. While Vitamin D is crucial for overall health, it’s especially important to your oral health. Having enough Vitamin D in your body will help you absorb calcium more efficiently, which is great for teeth. Fish, egg yolks or just spending a few minutes in the sunshine can help improve your Vitamin D levels.
Leafy greens
Super green veggies like broccoli, spinach, and kale are high in folic acid, calcium and a bunch of other important vitamins and minerals. You may not think that salad in front of you is doing much for your oral health, but you would be surprised.
Nuts
Almonds, Brazil nuts, and cashews are especially helpful when it comes to good oral health. They are packed with calcium and phosphorus. Nuts can also help fight bacteria and reduce your chance of tooth decay.
Some Bad Food for Teeth
Now that we’ve given you just a few of the beneficial foods that can help you have better oral health, it’s time for the foods that you’ll want to try to avoid or at least enjoy in moderation.
Hard candy
Hard candy is actually worse food for your teeth than eating a candy bar. Why? Because a candy bar is chewed quickly and washed away with your saliva. But hard candy is designed to stay in your mouth which gives bacteria more time to make acid, which is very harmful to your teeth. Hard candy can also cause broken teeth and fillings.
Soda and sports drinks
We all know that too much sugar can be bad for your teeth and your whole body. But it’s not just the sugar that’s bad for your teeth, it’s also the acid that is found in carbonated drinks. Even sugar-free sodas have acid that can damage the enamel on your teeth. Sports drinks might seem like a logical substitute but with hidden sugars and acid, they can be just as bad as soda.
Refined carbohydrates
Eating chips, crackers, and other refined carbs can convert to sugar in your mouth rapidly. This is what cavity-forming bacteria feed on. Crackers and bread can become mushy when you chew them and get lodged between your teeth, remaining long after the chewing is done.
Lemons
Although lemon can add some unique flavours to dishes, the citric acid that a lemon and other foods are filled with can really damage your teeth. Be aware of the different foods you eat that contain citric acid, it can erode your tooth enamel making your teeth susceptible to cavities.
While some foods are definitely better than others for your teeth, you can also help by adopting healthy habits like brushing and flossing after meals and drinking more water to wash away food particles and bacteria. This can also help you avoid bad breath. Sometimes even the best oral health care isn’t enough to fix problems, and that’s where NewSmile® comes in. Our NewSmile®system can help you bring your smile back.
