Healthy Teeth Call for a Healthy Diet

Healthy Teeth Call for a Healthy Diet
February 27, 2018 Adam Harwood

A smile is your calling card. It’s often the first thing people notice about us so it’s important to make sure your smile is a healthy one. Interestingly enough, one of the simplest ways to keep your smile healthy and strong is by watching what you eat.

Here’s the good news. Certain foods are good for your teeth and will help strengthen them. Some even aid in fighting against bacteria and plaque build-up. Best of all, some of these same foods will benefit more than just your dental health, and they include fresh fruits and vegetables, cheese, Vitamin C and Vitamin D.

While it’s easier to instill healthy eating habits at an early age, it’s never too late to start! Let’s take a look at the foods that will help promote good dental health and protect your smile.

Fruits & Veggies:

Fresh fruits and vegetables have always been known as a healthy snack. They can also be some of the best foods for maintaining healthy teeth. Oranges, melons, broccoli, celery, and carrots are all great alternatives to candy, cookies, and sugary snacks. Raw vegetables like celery and carrots are full of Vitamin A, fiber, and other important nutrients. Vitamin A and fiber are not only good for our body, they are also good for your teeth and especially your gums!

Milk and Cheese:

Milk and cheese are two foods that contain liberal amounts of calcium and protein, which are not only good for building your bones but very good for your preserving your teeth. Instead of eating a bowl of sugary cereal, try yogurt with chopped fresh fruit. It can be a great tasting alternative. Yogurt contains “good bacteria” that fight against “bad bacteria” that reside in our mouths. Recent studies have discovered that this prevents cavities.

Vitamin C & D:

In order to maintain good oral health, it’s important to make sure you get enough Vitamins C & D.  Vitamin C is essential to having healthy gums and strong teeth, in fact, Vitamin C deficiency has been linked with periodontal disease.

Cheese, egg yolks, mushrooms, and tuna are just a few of the food sources containing Vitamin D. High levels of Vitamin D have been associated with good oral health! And don’t forget you can get a dose of Vitamin D, simply by getting a little sunshine.

Other Steps You Can Take:

Beverages are a big culprit when it comes to introducing harmful elements like sugar into your mouth. And while it’s very tempting to have a soda with that slice of pizza or a bottle of iced tea with your sandwich, water is a much better choice for your dental health.

Speaking of beverages, be careful about ice cubes. Chewing on ice cubes can lead to the deterioration of tooth enamel and in some cases, chipped teeth and the dislodging of cavity fillings.

Zinc helps control plaque and reduce oral malodour (aka bad breath). Look for foods that have zinc like spinach, pumpkin seeds, chickpeas, and even dark chocolate.

No matter what you eat, make sure to brush and floss daily!