You most likely eat things not really knowing their impact on your oral health. All you might care about is how good they taste, but did you know there are certain foods you should consume to improve your overall oral health? Besides daily brushing and flossing, nutrition has a huge impact on your dental health, too. By eating a wide assortment of nutrient-rich foods from all food groups will not only benefit your body, but also your teeth and gums.
You already know that it’s important to eat a well-balanced diet of vegetables, fruits and protein foods for a healthy diet, but you’ll also want to include calcium-rich foods and whole grains since they also provide vital nutrients for your oral health. Here are some specific foods you should be eating for overall great oral health!
1. Drink lots of water
First and foremost, you should be drinking a lot of water. But fluoridated water is best for your oral health because fluoride aids in making your teeth more resistant to acid that causes cavities. Simply drinking tap water can help prevent any dental problems in the future.
2. Add dairy to your diet
If you can, try and add in dairy to your diet, including milk, cheese and yogurt. These are low in sugar and will benefit your dental health thanks to the calcium that helps strengthen your teeth. Try adding in more yogurts given the probiotics in it can help your gums since the good bacteria will take over the bad bacteria that cause cavities in you teeth. Just make sure that you choose a plain variety that doesn’t have any added sugar so that you don’t get cavities.
3. Phosphorus-rich foods
Strengthen your teeth even more by consuming phosphorus-rich foods like fish, meat, poultry, eggs and milk. These foods also provide your body with valuable protein it needs to build muscle.
4. Lots of fruits and veggies
Not only are fruits and veggies very important for your health, but they’re also amazing or your teeth since they contain water and fiber. This helps balance the sugar they have and can also help clean your teeth. Chewing fruits and veggies also stimulate saliva production in your mouth and this then helps wash harmful acids and food particles away from your pearly whites. Eat more apples in particular given its fibrous texture tends to stimulate the gums, holding you over until you can brush your teeth. Pack some in your lunch as a way to scrub your teeth after you’re done!
5. Eat lots of nuts
Nuts like almonds are great for your oral health since they not only provide calcium and protein for your body, but they’re low in sugar so you won’t have to worry about a snack giving you cavities.
6. Eat raisins for a snack
Usually, you’d want to stay away from sticky foods that can stick between your teeth, but certain ones like raisins might be good at preventing cavities! According to research from the Chicago College of Dentistry, raisins feature phytochemicals that can actually fight off bad bacteria that can cause gum disease and cavities. You can also snack on dried plums and cranberries, but just make sure that you brush your teeth after you eat them!
Although there are certain foods that can improve your overall oral health, you should still brush after eating, even if you ate the aforementioned healthy foods! If you have any questions, speak to your dentist more information on how to maintain a healthy diet or your oral health.