When we think about having strong, healthy teeth, we tend to think about brushing and flossing twice a day and avoiding sugars as much as possible. But actually, you can do a lot for your mouth by instilling positive habits, making teeth-conscious changes, and adding some of the best foods for oral health to your daily diet.
Here are some options and suggestions:
Water
While water isn’t a food, we all know that drinking water is good for our body because it helps to prevent dehydration. . . but did you know that it is also good for your teeth?
Water doesn’t have any harmful sugars, chemicals, or additives. It’s completely natural and it helps to dislodge and wash away debris from between your teeth and gums. If you don’t remove that debris, then you’ll most likely get cavities, tooth decay, and other severe problems! So, it’s best to keep your teeth in good condition in the first place (and drinking water can help you do that!).
Dairy Products
If you are not vegan, then eating a portion or two of cheese, yogurt, or milk each day will really help to maintain good oral health. These foods and other dairy products are packed with calcium, which helps to strengthen teeth. Plus, due to their significant phosphate content, they will also help to balance the mouth’s PH, which will help to prevent decay.
Crunchy Veggies
Crunchy veggies, like carrots and celery are also great for your teeth. Why? Because you need to chew them a lot to break them down enough to swallow. The process of chewing releases lots of saliva, which will help to neutralize your mouth and eliminate bad bacteria.
Not only this, but raw veggies are packed with all kinds of important vitamins and minerals that will help to strengthen your teeth, and the rest of your body too.
Leafy Greens
Of course, it’s not only crunchy veggies that are great for your teeth! Leafy greens, like spinach and kale, are also great due to their high levels of folic acid and calcium, which are both vital building blocks of strong, healthy bones.
Apples
Many people think that fruit is bad for the teeth due to sugar, but it can also have lots of important vitamins and minerals, too. Not only that, but when you chew hard fruits like apples, you can reduce the malic acid in your mouth by increasing saliva levels, which can help to keep cavities at bay.
By eating more of these foods, you can really help to maintain a healthy smile now and forever. So, start adding more of them to your plate today!
Featured Image Credit: Markus Spiske
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