12 Foods That Are Good for Your Teeth & Oral Health
September 18, 2024
You must take the proper steps to protect your oral health. Your teeth and gums require the right oral care to prevent tooth decay and rebuild tooth enamel for a healthy mouth.
However, your diet is also part of the equation for oral health. Choosing healthy foods can go a long way toward keeping healthy teeth and preventing problems like gum disease and tooth decay. It’s best to strike a balance between what you eat and how you care for your mouth. This blog post discusses the foods that are good for your teeth and what makes them better than other foods while touching on some foods you should avoid.
Why Are Some Foods Better for Teeth Than Others?
Some foods are better for keeping teeth healthy compared to other foods. Here’s how certain healthy foods can promote better dental health.
Increasing Saliva Production
Crunchy foods are known for increasing saliva flow. When the food you’re eating promotes saliva production, it helps wash away food particles, plaque, and oral bacteria, benefiting your gum health. It also naturally contains calcium and phosphate, which helps strengthen tooth enamel.
Strengthening Teeth
Calcium-rich foods can further bolster your smile as the health benefits they provide keep teeth and bones strong.
A Natural Toothbrush
Certain crunchy and firm foods that contain water—like fruits and vegetables—scrub teeth naturally, cleaning them while you eat. You’re not only getting more of the vitamins you need, but you’re also boosting saliva to help protect you from tooth decay.
More Nutrients
Some foods are a powerhouse of nutrients that can help your body thrive. These vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants are ideal for your teeth and gums, giving them what they need to fight decay and infection. Vitamins A, C, D, and K, along with minerals such as calcium, phosphorus, and magnesium, promote your best health from head to toe.
12 Foods Good for Teeth to Maintain Good Oral Health
Help keep your gums clean and take care of your teeth with these foods that will assist in maintaining good oral health.
1. Apples
Apples are a great tasting food that also happen to be really good for your mouth! The action of eating an apple actually causes your mouth to produce more saliva which helps rinse out particles and oral bacteria that could cause problems in the future. The texture also stimulates the gums. While eating an apple doesn’t replace brushing your teeth, they have some great benefits that can help your teeth if you don’t have time to brush right away. They also contain vitamin C, which supports your body’s best defense against infections.
2. Leafy Greens
Leafy greens are full of vitamins including vitamins C, A, E, and K and minerals like folic acid, which have numerous benefits for your whole body. Kale and spinach are leafy greens that promote oral health as they are high in calcium. Add leafy greens to your smoothie, toss some kale in your salad, or try spinach on pizza to get more green leafy vegetables into your meals.
3. Cheese
Cheese isn’t just great on pizza or as part of a charcuterie board. It also can help you maintain your smile. Cheese is full of calcium which helps you have strong teeth. It also contains casein which has been shown to help with remineralizing tooth enamel. If you love cheese, enjoy more of it to benefit your teeth.
4. Carrots
Raw carrots are high in vitamin A, B6, biotin, and fiber making them an all-around snack. They also are abrasive so they act almost like a toothbrush and help remove buildup and plaque-causing bacteria from your teeth and gums. For these effects, carrots are best when eaten raw, though they are a healthy vegetable that you can feel good about enjoying even when they’re cooked.
5. Dark Chocolate
Are you surprised to see dark chocolate on this list? Unlike other types of chocolate, the dark variety is great for your dental health. It contains antioxidants and a compound known as CBH that is helpful for your enamel. Ideally, you’ll want to choose dark chocolates with between 70% and 80% cacao to get the best benefits with less sugar and more flavanols.
6. Fatty Fish
Fatty fish like salmon provide your teeth and body with nourishing vitamin D, fatty acids, and calcium. These components help prevent gum inflammation that can lead to bleeding gums. Eat more salmon and you’ll be promoting healthy gums. Salmon isn’t the only fish that can give you these benefits. Look for anchovies, sardines, herring, mackerel, trout, and tuna to broaden your spectrum of these nutrients.
7. Green and Black Teas
As long as you don’t add sugar to your tea, green and black tea varieties help prevent tooth decay and protect gum health. They feature beneficial antioxidants as well, another bonus that may convince you to swap one of your cups of coffee with one of these teas.
8. Lean Proteins
Even when you get a lot of vitamin D and calcium in your diet, your body needs phosphorus, which can prevent your teeth from chipping. Choose lean proteins to help you get this important nutrient for your teeth. These include chicken breast, eggs, tofu, beans, shellfish, and cottage cheese.
9. Whole Grains
Whole grains such as brown rice, quinoa, and whole wheat bread provide great dental benefits for strong bones and teeth thanks to magnesium and B vitamins. They can also help reduce your chances of periodontal disease by helping your body process blood sugar and minimizing inflammation.
10. Yogurt
The beneficial bacteria known as probiotics found in yogurt are great for your digestive system, teeth, and bone density. However, make sure you choose yogurt that is plain with no added sugars. If you find it too boring, add some fresh fruits on top such as strawberries, which contain malic acid, known for naturally whitening teeth.
11. Almonds
While nuts and seeds tend to make an excellent snack choice, almonds are one of the best foods to eat for your oral health. They are low in sugar and filled with protein and calcium, great for strong bones and teeth. Plus, their crunchy texture and savory flavors can help satisfy your cravings.
12. Water
Drinking water provides your body with the hydration it needs to keep connective tissues healthy. It also helps saliva production to replenish your mouth and wash bacteria away. When drinking water, you’re restoring the pH levels in your mouth where good bacteria can thrive and protect your oral health.
Eat for Healthy Teeth by Protecting Tooth Enamel and Fighting Gum Disease
Some foods are not good for your teeth, and many of those may be obvious. Starchy or sugary foods that have a low nutritional value are prime examples. The food particles they leave behind can easily allow cavity-causing bacteria to thrive. You should do your best to limit sugary treats and make sure you practice good oral hygiene after consuming them. If you brush right after a treat, you’ll have more than just fresh breath. You’ll reduce your risk of tooth decay.
While fresh fruits and vegetables are recommended for a balanced diet, be careful with citrus fruits. They may have loads of vitamin C, but they are acidic foods that can weaken your enamel.
Focus on nutrient-rich foods that are good for your teeth by making the right changes in your dietary habits. You’ll not only take care of your overall health but also have good dental health when you eat the best foods to nourish your oral health.
In addition to eating the best foods loaded with calcium, folic acid, and an array of vitamins, you can help keep from developing cavities while chasing away bad breath by chewing sugar-free gum. When you chew sugarless gum, your body produces more saliva, too, which can further assist in washing away problem-causing bacteria and lodged food particles.
Let Park Crossing Dentistry Help Your Oral Health
Balancing out the food that isn’t so good with some foods that are better is a sure way to help your teeth stay in great shape. Along with taking care of your teeth and gums by properly brushing and flossing each day and keeping your scheduled teeth cleanings, you’ll be doing your part to protect your teeth by preventing major dental issues. For more information on how to maintain strong teeth and a healthy smile, give us a call. Park Crossing Dentistry would like to be your number one choice for dentistry. Schedule an appointment with our Pineville dentist at our Charlotte dental office.