Are you curious about how the foods you eat can affect your teeth? Well, that will make your dentist happy because there is actually a significant connection between diet and oral health!
Dentist-approved foods & drinks:
1. Hard vegetables and fruits (carrots, apples, cucumbers, beets)
These contain vitamins and nutrients that help normalize blood circulation in the gums and supply calcium and phosphorus. Hard veggies also give your gums a good massage, helping get rid of plaque, as well as stimulates saliva which neutralizes acids that lead to cavities.
2. Dairy products (cheese, cottage cheese, yogurt)
The calcium and phosphates in milk, cheese and other dairy products, help give back minerals your teeth might have lost due to other foods and help restore tooth enamel.
3. Green and black teas
These teas both contain polyphenols that kill or reduce plaque bacteria, preventing acid that attacks teeth. If you make your tea with fluoridated tap water, that’s an added bonus, as fluoridated water strengthens tooth enamel and prevents cavities.
4. Water!
Hydration, hydration, hydration — water helps to wash away food particles and bacteria, leading to healthier teeth and gums.
Foods to limit:
We can all agree that sugar is bad for our teeth…but why?
The explanation: It all comes down to pH. When you eat sugar (lactose, sucrose, all the -oses) the bacteria that lives in plaque also eat the sugar and produce an acid by-product. This acid slowly eats away at your teeth and can cause cavities.
Here are some things to consider:
As we’ve learned, acid is bad for your teeth, so you should also try to limit foods or beverages that are really acidic. Possibly the #1 worst thing is carbonated sodas, which are both highly acidic and full of sugar!
If you have a sugary drink, have it with a meal, when your mouth is producing lots of saliva.
Avoid sipping or grazing on things that contain sugar for long periods of time to allow saliva to get in there and do its job.
It’s essential to take care of your teeth and get them checked regularly. Schedule an appointment with your local dentist at ThirtyTwo Dental today!