The Truth About Food For Healthy Teeth

Healthy food for healthy teeth!

When you’re taught basic oral hygiene, you’re taught to brush twice a day, floss at least once a day, visit your dentist every 6 months, and don’t consume an excessive amount of sugar.

Why do parents always warn kids about eating too much sugar? According to the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research , 42% of children between the ages of 2-11 have cavities in their primary teeth. 92% of adults have cavities in their permanent teeth.

The reason? We have harmful bacteria in our mouths that feeds off of sugar to create acid that erodes our tooth enamel. This erosion causes cavities and gum disease. The more sugary foods and drinks you consume, the more susceptible to tooth decay and gum disease you become. So we know that sugar isn’t beneficial to maintain a healthy smile, but is there food for healthy teeth?

Food for Healthy Teeth: 5 Foods that Benefit Your Smile

So what foods can you eat that is beneficial to keep your enamel strong, and your teeth cavity-free? Food for healthy teeth comes in all forms from tea, gum, and even garlic. Below are a few more examples of food that can give you a healthy smile.

1. Cheese – We know that acid is what causes tooth decay, and it turns out that when you eat cheese it raises the pH level and lowers your susceptibility to tooth decay. While cheese has important nutrients like protein and calcium to build healthy enamel it is thought that the constant chewing increases saliva. An increase in saliva washes out harmful bacteria.
2. Yogurt – Yogurt is packed with calcium and protein, but it has a secret weapon that fights the bad bacteria in your mouth – probiotics! The more good bacteria in your mouth the healthier it is. If you eat yogurt, be sure to avoid the ones packed with added sugar. A delicious alternative is to buy the plain flavor, and then add fresh fruit to add flavor, such as apples or berries.
3. Apples – A crunchy fruit like an apple is full of water and fiber, and increases saliva in your mouth that helps washes away the bad bacteria. Apples and other crunchy fruits and vegetables are naturally abrasive and act like nature’s toothbrush by brushing off plaque.
4. Foods Rich in Vitamins – Leafy greens, almonds, eggs, and other phosphorous-rich foods can keep your tooth enamel strong and healthy.
5. Celery – This special vegetable is a triple threat. It’s packed full of water, crunchy, and stringy. The water and abrasiveness of the celery helps remove plaque and wash away bacteria, but the stringiness of celery acts as nature’s floss.

Contact Penn Dental Family Practice

We couldn’t possibly list all the food for healthy teeth here, but if you want to know more about foods that can boost your oral health talk to our dentists at Penn Dental Family Practice.

Make an appointment today!