Incorporating a healthy diet into your lifestyle doesn’t have to only be about getting you physically in shape or getting you emotionally intact. It can also be about maintaining a healthy smile. While you may think that brushing your teeth and flossing is enough to maintain oral health and hygiene, incorporating a healthy eating habit is an essential upkeep to your teeth. While, yes, there are a lot of foods that are greatly recommended to be avoided in order to keep your oral health intact, there are also plenty of foods that actually promote oral health. Incorporating these foods into your diet can do such things as protect your teeth, reduce risk of gum disease, and keep your smile shine bright.
Cheese – Filled with calcium, a crucial mineral for strong teeth and bones. Helps with balancing pH levels in the mouth, which then reduces lowers risk of tooth decay. Additionally. cheese stimulates saliva production, resulting in a natural mouth cleanse.
Yogurt – Similar to cheese, yogurt is rich in calcium and protein, which are essential for the health of your teeth. The probiotics found in yogurt benefit your gums by crowding out infectious bacteria that causes gum disease.
Greens – Foods like kale, broccoli and spinach are considered to be dental superfoods. They’re high in calcium and contain flic acid, a vitamin B that helps protect gums, particularly in pregnant women. This food group also stimulates saliva , which helps flush away bacteria from your teeth. Green tea is also a great addition to your diet for healthy teeth. It helps reduce inflammation and help reduce risk of cavities.
Apples – Dubbed as ‘nature’s toothbrush’, apples are high in fiber and water. Chewing apples stimulates saliva production, which then reduces the risk of cavities by rinsing away food particles and bacteria. Apples’ natural sugar are less harmful to teeth than refined sugar.
Carrots – Containing vitamin A, Carrots are essential for maintaining tooth enamel. They’re also high in fiber and increase saliva production.
Celery – Known as a ‘natural toothbrush’, celery scrapes away food particles from your teeth. Containing vitamin A and C, celery boosts gum health.
Almond – A great addition for your teeth as a source of calcium and protein while being low in sugar. Adding almond to your daily diet can reduce tooth decay.
Oranges – High in vitamin C, which is vital for healthy teeth and gums. It strengthens blood vessels and connective tissues, which then slows down the progression of gum disease by reducing inflammation.
Onions – While terrible for your breath, onions are a fantastic addition to your daily diet for your oral health. They contain sulfur compounds that contain antibacterial properties, which can reduce bacterial that could possibly damage your teeth.
It takes more than brushing and flossing, or using mouthwash to maintain oral health. It’s also about diet and your overall lifestyle that makes the difference. In hindsight, making sure your teeth stay healthy isn’t as hard as you think. For all you know it, you’re doing it now without even realizing it.