Doctors, nutritionists, and parents alike all say the same thing: “You are what you eat.” This goes for your teeth and oral health too! One of the first places that a poor diet will be evident is your mouth, so use this list of five foods that help build strong teeth and improve your diet too.
1. Dairy Products
Milk, yogurt, and cheese are rich in calcium, which helps to strengthen the enamel on your teeth. Your enamel is your defense against tooth decay and it’s important to keep it strong because once enamel is worn away, there’s no way to get it back.
2. Whole Grains
Whole grains are unrefined grains that contain all three original parts of the grain – the bran, germ, and endosperm – in the same proportions as when the grain is growing. These whole grains retain their nutritious components and fiber. Whole grains provide B vitamins and iron, which help to keep your gums healthy. Whole grains also are rich in magnesium, a mineral that helps in building tooth enamel.
3. Crunchy Foods
It takes a lot of chomping to eat crunchy foods like carrots, apples, and celery. All that chewing with fiber-rich fruits and vegetables actually serves to help clear away bacteria and provide important components of strong and healthy teeth.
4. Vitamin C
Fruits that are rich in vitamin C, like kiwis, strawberries, citrus fruits, and melons, are crucial to your oral health. Vitamin C reduces the amount of bacteria in the mouth, prevents gum disease, and supports healthy gums. Make sure you wash the sugars and acids associated with eating these fruits away with water to minimize the effects of acid erosion to the teeth’s enamel.
5. Leafy Greens
When you eat a bowl of fresh spinach or kale, it’s a bit like running your teeth through a car wash: these greens produce lots of saliva and the food itself physically scrubs your teeth clean. Spinach and kale also contain calcium and form a protective acid-resistant layer which can also help to prevent tooth decay.
Don’t Forget to Eat Healthy!
Eat a good balance of the foods discussed here for better oral health. All of us at Kherani Dental at Aspen want to keep your teeth healthy, strong, and beautiful. Contact us today to ask us for more tips on how you can help support your oral health and to schedule your biannual cleaning and checkup.
