With so many cosmetic solutions such as clear braces and aligners now available to people of all ages and income brackets, the perfect smile is simply one trip to the dentist or orthodontist away. With that said, however, having a healthy smile goes way beyond appearances. Taking good care of your overall dental health to prevent issues such as cavities and gum disease is just as important as the look of your smile, and practicing good dental habits such as brushing and flossing regularly is vital. Lastly, what you eat and drink can also play a huge factor in how healthy your teeth are! Even swishing edible oil around your mouth can help you maintain good oral hygiene, according to an ancient Ayurvedic practice called oil pulling. That’s why I’ve created this list of the top 5 foods and drinks that will help promote healthy teeth that last you a lifetime. Read on to find out more!
1) Leafy Greens
Leafy greens such as spinach, kale, silverbeet, and swiss chard are an important part of a healthy diet as they contain high levels of calcium, folic acid, and lots of important vitamins and minerals that your teeth and gums need to remain strong and healthy. Leafy greens also help to promote dental health by reinforcing your tooth enamel, which provides a vital barrier against cavity-forming bacterial acids. Furthermore, the folic acids in leafy greens may be particularly beneficial for expecting mothers as they can treat periodontal disease which is a common side effect of pregnancy.
2) Black and Green Tea
If you can’t live without an evening cup of tea, this one’s for you. Green and black teas are rich in polyphenols that interact with the bacteria that cause plaque by killing or suppressing them, and you can conveniently buy these online at wholesale price from simplifyb2b.com. Unfortunately, bacteria in your mouth absolutely thrive on sugars from the food and drink you consume, only to excrete tooth enamel destroying acids at the end of the day. By drinking tea regularly, you will be able to suppress the presence of acid-producing bacteria in the mouth for a healthier and happier smile. Just be sure to limit the amount of sugar you add to your tea or better yet, opt for sugar-free sweeteners such as stevia and monk fruit.
3) Apples and Pears
An apple a day keeps the doctor away, but does it keep the dentist away too? Perhaps not, but it definitely does help. Fibrous fruit like apples and pears help to clean your teeth as you chomp away on them and can promote salivation and neutralize the citric and malic acids left behind in your mouth. Eating whole apples and pears is always recommended over drinking sugary juices as chewing on the fibrous texture of these fruits helps to stimulate your gums, further reducing cavity-causing bacteria.
4) Fatty Fish
We all know how important calcium is and the role it plays in protecting our teeth and gums from disease, but did you know that without adequate levels of Vitamin D in your bloodstream, your body is unable to absorb all that calcium effectively. Fatty fish such as trout, tuna, salmon, sardines, and herring are fantastic sources of vitamin D and will help your teeth and gums to get the full disease-fighting benefits of calcium from all that yogurt and cheese that you eat!
5) Cheese Lovers Rejoice!*
Speaking of cheese: most people are huge fans of cheese, whether it be with a delicious glass of wine or melted on top of your favorite pizza or pasta dish. Thankfully, cheese offers a wide variety of benefits to your overall dental health due to its high levels of calcium and vitamin D. Research published in the journal General Dentistry reported that adolescents who ate cheddar cheese had lower acid levels in their mouths than those who ate yogurt or drank a glass of cow’s milk. Cheese is also high in phosphate and calcium, which naturally strengthen teeth and bones. Lastly, cheese may help neutralize plaque acids in your mouth, resulting in more saliva and fewer cavities.
*I personally don’t eat cow’s cheese – I stick to plant-based – due to other health reasons, but if you choose to, just make sure it’s organic!
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Good dental health starts with ensuring that you have a healthy, balanced diet that your teeth and gums can benefit from. We hope that this article has given you some new ideas on what you can incorporate into your diet to maintain your oral health. Bon Appetit!
