10 Foods That Are Good for Your Teeth
Eating right is hard enough as it is, but keeping up with your dental health can be just as challenging. An unhealthy diet can increase your or your child’s chances of developing cavities or even gum disease, so why not try to tackle both obstacles at the same time?
Foods That Are Good For Your Teeth
Here is our list of 10 foods that can help start your dental care off on the right foot.
Apples
Even though the saying goes, “an apple a day keeps the doctor away,” this can also apply to dentists…sort of. Although eating an apple doesn’t replace a thorough brushing of your teeth, it does have some benefits for your teeth. According to a few recent studies, chewing an apple may result in a “reduction in salivary bacterial viability.” In other words, apples can help kill off some of the harmful bacteria in your mouth. So, next time your child is asking for a sweet dessert, try to give them an apple instead of candy. Do keep in mind, though, that all fruit contains some sugar, and you still need to brush your teeth at the end of the day.
Celery
Due to its crunchy and low-sugar nature, celery does a good job of brushing off bacteria from your teeth. It’s also high in water content and requires more chewing than most foods, which contributes to an increase in saliva production. Saliva is a natural superhero that washes away food debris and remineralizes your teeth. For adults, this makes celery a low-calorie and tooth-friendly snack!
For children, however, celery may prove to be an unpopular snack. In these cases, a tasty spread like cream cheese or peanut butter can help ease them into this new vegetable. Just keep in mind that a substantial amount of sugars and calories can hide in certain spreads, so always keep an eye on the nutrition label.
Leafy Greens
As you may have guessed already, anything with a lower sugar and carb content is better for your teeth. After all, these foods give bacteria less stuff to munch on. This aside, greens such as spinach and arugula are also chock full of nutrients. Calcium and Vitamin C are known to be particularly good for your teeth and gums. Foods with a good calcium content can help strengthen and restore your teeth’s enamel. Folic acid is another part of spinach and leafy greens that works to reduce inflammation of the gums and fight off plaque and other bacteria.
If you’re not a fan of salads, though, don’t worry; you’re not alone. Here’s your tip of the day: Try making a spinach smoothie. You can include fruit such as apples and a splash of juice.
Cheese And Dairy
Although this is especially true of hard cheeses, all cheese is high in calcium to some extent. As we mentioned above, a hefty calcium content helps build up the enamel of your tooth and counteracts acids that wear away at your teeth. Cheese aside, other calcium-full dairy foods include milk, yogurt, and cottage cheese.
Is Milk Good For Your Teeth?
Milk is great in that it contains plenty of calcium and phosphorus. It also stimulates saliva protection, which helps protect your teeth. Having said that, milk does contain some natural sugars. This means that it’s still a good idea to brush your teeth with a good toothpaste after your morning cereal. It’s also best not to leave small children with bottles of milk for long periods of time for this reason.
Meat
Meat may not be the first thing you think of when you think “teeth-friendly,” but you’d be surprised. In fact, beef, pork, tuna, and salmon are all foods that are rich in phosphorus. This mineral is vital to the absorption and utilization of calcium.
Pumpkin Seeds
This one may be a tough sell for your child, but for the baseball moms out there, we recommend trying to get your child to replace chips with an equally tasty bag of pumpkin seeds.
Similar to meat, pumpkin seeds are high in phosphorus and allow the body to better absorb other important vitamins and minerals. Phosphorus also supports tooth enamel and helps hold your teeth in place. Another vital nutrient in pumpkin seeds is zinc. Just 1 oz of pumpkin seeds will give you about 2.21 mg of zinc. This mineral strengthens your bones and improves your gum health, too! Other non-dental benefits include a stronger immune system, healthier hair, and better digestion.
Around Halloween, you can also take the seeds from the insides of your Jack-o-Lanterns and bake them, making a nice addition to a meal or just a snack. Pumpkin seeds are also great additions to trail mix if you like to go on picnics, hikes, or long walks any time of the year.
Fish
If you’re a fan of seafood, then you’re in luck! Fish contains vitamin D, something that few other foods have. In fact, other than fatty fish, your largest source of vitamin D is most likely the sun. This important mineral aids in the body’s absorption of calcium. So, during those colder months when you may not be getting enough natural sunlight, try to get your fill of salmon, halibut, or sardines. Whether your child chooses fish or the great outdoors, make sure they are filling up on vitamin D to make the most of their calcium intake.
Oranges
High in vitamin C, oranges help build stronger blood vessels and reduce inflammation that could irritate your child’s gums. Vitamin C is also a key component of your body’s ability to produce collagen, a protein that deters periodontal disease and sensitive gums. Oranges also contain B vitamins, which promote healthy connective tissue. So, by eating oranges, you and your child will be getting at least two important nutrients that will improve your overall oral health.
Berries
Like any food high in antioxidants, berries are an overall healthy choice. Antioxidants are particularly good for the mouth, however, as they kill bacteria that could lead to inflammation and tooth decay. Antioxidants also keep your mouth safe from cell damage and infections.
Sweet Potatoes
One of the sweeter options on our list is sweet potatoes, which contain high amounts of vitamin A. Vitamin A helps with the growth and repair of tissue and contributes to saliva production. Additionally, vitamin A helps promote and maintain healthy Keratin levels. Keratin is a protein that supports healthy hair, skin, and nails.
Foods That Are Bad For Your Teeth
Now that we’ve talked a bit about what you should eat, let’s talk about what you shouldn’t be eating. First, let’s start with some basics.
How Do Cavities Form?
As you might have already guessed, most of the foods on this list are going to be the things that encourage tooth decay and gum disease. In order to understand that, you’ll want to know how cavities form.
Generally speaking, we all have some bacteria in our mouths at any given time. Even so, you don’t want too many harmful bacteria, and you definitely don’t want to feed the bacteria. Bacteria can feed off of sugars and produce a harmful acid. As this acid wears down your enamel, dental decay can start to form. The longer you leave the dental decay (cavity) alone, the higher the probability of it burrowing down even deeper into the sensitive parts of your teeth.
In order to prevent these cavities, you want to avoid letting sugary foods hang around your mouth for long periods of time. Also, you’ll want to brush twice a day to clean away the bacteria that is there.
Now, here is a short list of cavity-causing foods to stay away from:
- Candy. Sweets are the classic example of “bad for teeth.” This is not only because they’re filled with sugar, but they can also be sticky. For example, caramels can get jammed into the back of your teeth, at which point they’ll continue causing harm until the next time you brush.
- Sugary Sodas. Liquid sugar can be a silent but unexpected danger. This is due to the fact that liquids can cover even more areas, especially tiny crevices that your toothbrush is unable to reach. You may also be tempted to sip on drinks throughout the day, maximizing your exposure to these sugars.
- Chips. Bacteria can feed off of starches almost as easily as they do sugars. Worse, crunchy snacks such as chips can get stuck in between your teeth, increasing your risk of developing cavities.
- Frappuccinos and Flavored Lattes. You may think of coffee as a harmless treat, but that’s not necessarily true. Many coffee shop chains offer tasty lattes and seasonal drinks such as mochas or pumpkin spice lattes. It’s important to recognize that these drinks are tasty because they’re filled with sugary syrups and powders.
How To Keep Teeth Healthy
A healthy diet is a great start, but it cannot prevent tooth decay and cavities on its own. It’s important to follow through with good oral care habits for both you and your child. This means brushing twice a day, flossing daily, and going to all of your dental check-ups.
Finally, if you have any questions or concerns about your or your child’s teeth, don’t hesitate to ask! If you’d rather chat in person, regular appointments with a dentist are a good time to discuss any concerns you may have about your teeth.
Visit Snodgrass-King Dentistry in Middle Tennessee
Whether you’re an adult looking for a new dental care team or you’ve got a little one who needs to come in for their first appointment, Snodgrass-King is the place for you! We have several fun and friendly offices all over Williamson and Davidson County. Call today and schedule a time to come see us in one of our offices in Middle Tennessee (Mt. Juliet, Murfreesboro, Spring Hill, Franklin, and Cool Springs).
