Foods (and Drinks) for Healthier Teeth

They say you are what you eat and nothing can be truer when it comes to keeping your teeth healthy. There is power in healthy foods, tooth enamel power that is! Plus, other amazing benefits to help keep your teeth and gums strong, clean and healthy.

Water

First off, drink your water. A nice glass of H20 contains fluoride, “nearly 75 percent of the U.S. population has access to fluoridated water, so drinking water from your own kitchen sink can help prevent dental problems.”  Fluoride, along with calcium and phosphate help keep teeth strong and resistant against cavities.

Cheese

Cheese gets a bad rap, but did you know cheese helps raise the pH in your mouth, which in turn decreases your risk of tooth decay. It also contains calcium. So, it doesn’t hurt to have a few squares of your favorite cheese.

Yogurt

Yogurt is high in calcium and protein, both essential nutrients for oral health. Yogurt also contains probiotics, which help keep oral bacteria in check, like fight bad breath, gingivitis, and decrease gum inflammation.

Leafy Greens

Leafy greens should be in your diet regardless of oral health benefits. I mean they are just so full of vitamins and minerals, like “vitamin A, vitamin C, beta carotene, phosphorus, calcium and magnesium. Phosphorus is stored in your teeth and bones to help your body balance and absorb calcium and magnesium.” Be sure to include a leafy green salad at lunch or a handful of kale or spinach in your morning smoothie.

Apples

Sweets are foods you might to stay away from, but apples can be the exception. While the saying “an apple a day, keeps the dentist away,” might not be at all accurate, apples do have some oral health benefits. When you eat an apple, you produce more saliva that helps remove food particles and bacteria, “an immediate reduction in salivary bacterial viability similar to that after tooth brushing.”

While nothing replaces a visit to your dentist, it’s nice to combine proper oral hygiene with a nutritional diet for overall health and wellness. So, next time you’re walking to your fridge for a snack, consider grabbing one of these options.