When people think of dental health, oftentimes they think of preventative care like brushing and flossing and seeing your dentist
regularly. But what many people don’t seem to realize is that your diet
actually has quite a lot to do with your dental health as well.
We
often hear about the types of foods to avoid when it comes to the
overall health of our teeth and gums, but what about the foods that are
actually good for our oral health as well as our general health? There
are certain foods we should be avoiding and there are also foods we
should be consuming on a regular basis if we want to benefit our dental
health.
Whenever you eat or drink sugary and/or starchy foods, you are actually “feeding” plaque that can build up in your mouth. Plaque forms a thin film on your teeth
and when starches and/or sugars come in contact with the plaque on your
teeth, the resulting acids attack your teeth for at least 20 minutes or
so after you have finished eating.
If this process is repeated,
the hard enamel on your teeth can begin to break down. However, just as
there are foods that are bad for your teeth, there are also foods that
are good for your teeth as well. While some foods promote tooth decay
there are other foods that help fight the build-up of plaque on the
surface of your teeth and actually promote better dental health.
What Are the Best Foods For Your Teeth?
High-fiber fruits and veggies- Foods that are high in fiber tend to have a “detergent-like” effect on your mouth, according to the ADA (American Dental Association). These foods also get your saliva flowing. This can be your next best natural defense from getting cavities and/or gum disease.
Around
20 minutes after you have eaten any foods containing starches and/or
sugars, your saliva starts reducing the effects of all the acids and the
enzymes that attack your teeth. Also, since saliva has traces of
phosphate and calcium, it also helps to restore minerals to the areas of
your teeth that may have lost them due to the effects of bacterial
acids.
Milk, cheese, plain yogurt, and other dairy foods-
Cheese also increases saliva production. The calcium in cheese and milk
and the phosphates in milk and other dairy foods help put the minerals
back into your teeth that may have been lost.
Green teas and black teas-
Both of these contain polyphenols, which interact with plaque bacteria.
They either hold back or kill bacteria, which prevents them from
producing acid that can attack your teeth. Tea can also be a good
fluoride source depending on the type of water used to brew it.
Sugarless chewing gum- This is another saliva-increaser that also removes particles of food from your mouth.
Foods containing fluoride-
Fluoridated water and food containing fluoridated water help your
teeth. This includes sugar-free powdered juices as well as dehydrated
soups. Commercially prepared foods, like powdered cereals, seafood and
poultry products can also provide fluoride.
What Are the Worst Foods For Your Teeth?
- Sticky candies and sweets containing refined sugars
- Starchy and/or sugary foods that can get trapped between teeth.
- Carbonated soft drinks contain citric and phosphoric acids that wear away enamel
- Substances that dry your mouth out like alcohol and certain medications
Now that you know which types of foods are the best and the worst for your dental health, feel free to spread the word.