Foods That Can Help Keep Your Teeth Healthy

Having excellent dental health is more than just cavity prevention.

Good dental hygiene also consists of taking proper care of the fibers, tissues, bone, and surfaces that keep your teeth protected.

The best way to ensure your teeth stay strong, healthy, and cavity-free is by eating the right foods including protein, dairy, and fruits and veggies.

Best Foods for Overall Dental Health

Foods high in calcium, protein, and fiber can all protect the enamel on your teeth and boost bone density.

Fruits and vegetables encourage the production of saliva, which can assist in washing away particles of food, in turn, preventing decay. Your saliva can also help counter balance the sugar you are eating from other foods.

In a sense, the same foods which are good for your teeth are the same foods that are good for your entire health and body overall.

The best foods that can provide you with the proper nutrition for strong, healthy teeth include:

• Milk
• Plain yogurt
• Cheese
• Leafy greens
• Fish
• Meat
• Poultry
• Eggs
• Fruits/veggies

As far as beverages, water, particularly fluoride water, is the best choice. Water that contains fluoride can help restore the enamel on your teeth, encourage the production of saliva, and wash away food that is stuck in between your teeth.

Best Foods for Stengthening Enamel

Enamel is the coating that shields your teeth and prevents decay from forming. While enamel is one of the strongest substances in your body, it can easily become damaged by sugar and acid present in certain food and beverages.

The bad news is that once your enamel is completely gone, there is nothing you can do to get it back. Fortunately, by eating the right foods, you can prevent weakening of the enamel altogether.

If you are experiencing weakening of your enamel, the following food can help strengthen what’s remaining, including:

• Black or green teas (both of which balance the bacteria that causes plaque)
• Sugar-free gum (encourages the production of saliva)
• High fiber fruits and vegetables
• Food or drinks containing fluoride (helps to restore damaged enamel)
• High protein foods (encourages stronger teeth)
• Dairy products such as cheese and milk

Best Foods for Stronger Teeth

Vitamin C, in addition to other antioxidants present in fruit, can help balance bacteria that attach to the outside of your teeth. This bacteria is responsible for causing cavities and the need for fillings.

To encourage better overall dental health, the following fruits are excellent:

• oranges
• grapefruit
• kiwis
• strawberries
• apples
• cranberries

However, you should avoid or be careful when eating fruits that contain too much acid, such as tomatoes. These can damage the enamel if you eat them alone. If you consume tomatoes, make sure that you include them in a meal to reduce the amount of acid they contain.

Furthermore, fresh fruits are a better choice over dried fruits. Dried fruits contain high levels of salt and sugar.

What Foods Should I Avoid?

Any food containing high levels of sugar such as candy and other sweets and snacks are perhaps the worst foods you can consume in relation to your dental health. Too much sugar will attach to your teeth, resulting in the accumulation of cavity-causing bacteria.

You should also avoid sugary juice and soda as they have a tendency to increase your risk of developing decay and cavities.

Make Choices to Protect Your Teeth

The best foods to maintain overall dental health are also excellent for your body. Instead of choosing processed foods, consume more fresh foods. Water that contains fluoride is a better option over sugary drinks such as soda and juice.

Additionally, you should stay away or limit the amount of starchy and sugary foods you consume.

Of course, remember to practice good oral health, including brushing and flossing twice a day.