Eat for Your Teeth

From Business Health Trust dental provider Delta Dental of Washington.

When you think about eating for a healthy body, why not add eating for great oral health!

So, what is eating for your teeth? It means consider caring for your whole mouth, minerals that are part of the teeth structure, and bone health to protect your teeth and hold them securely in your jaw. Like your body, your mouth needs the right amount of nutrition to stay strong and healthy.

A few basic rules to follow are:

• Eat foods high in calcium like low-fat cheese, fat-free or low-fat milk, plain yogurt, and leafy greens: They provide the nourishment you need for healthy teeth.
• Eat protein like eggs, fish, meat, and poultry: This will help protect the enamel on your teeth and improve bone density.
• Eat foods high in water content and fiber, like fruits and vegetables: They not only stimulate saliva — which helps wash away food particles, neutralize acids, and prevent decay — but also help to balance out the sugar you may be consuming in other foods.
• Drink water! Your best beverage option is always water. Drinking water flushes away food particles from hard-to-reach places, and promotes saliva production, both of which keep your teeth clean and harmful bacteria at bay.

Warning! Don’t forget to avoid foods that contain sugar and little nutritional value — candy, sweets and savory snacks like crackers or chips. These are among the worst foods for your dental health. Sugars and carbohydrates in these foods stick to your teeth, providing a feast for the harmful bacteria that cause plaque and cavities.

For more information about sugar, visit the Delta Dental of Washington blog post The Truth Behind Sugar’s Bad Rap. For good nutrition information, follow the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s dietary guidelines, which include recommended amounts of dairy, protein, grains, and fruits and vegetables.

Other resources:

https://dentistry.uic.edu/news-stories/eat-fruits-and-veggies-for-a-healthy-smile/

https://dentaldepot.net/10-foods-that-are-good-for-your-teeth/