Not only does our dental hygiene routine play a big role in keeping our mouths healthy, but what we eat does too. What we eat on a daily basis contributes to our health, from our teeth down to our toes. If we’re not eating healthy foods on a regular basis, we’re not doing our bodies any favors. If you want to have the healthiest teeth and gums, here are 10 foods to add into your diet that will not only benefit your smile — but your whole body too! 

5 Foods for Healthy Teeth 

If you’re wanting to improve your oral health, a good place to start is with your diet. Here are 5 dentist-approved foods to help give you a healthy smile: 

1.Water

We all know the benefits of water. It keeps us hydrated, our skin glowing, aids in digestion, and more. However, water, especially when it has fluoride, is the best drink you can consume for your smile. Fluoridated water helps strengthen the teeth and makes them less susceptible to cavities and decay. 

2.Cheese

Add more cheese? Yes, please! Cheese is a good food to add into your meals because of the level of calcium and phosphate they have. Additionally, cheese can also help balance the acidity in your mouth which means less cavities and sensitive teeth. 

3.Leafy Greens

Add a little more green to your diet to really optimize your dental health. Leafy greens, like spinach and kale, are loaded with antioxidants and vitamins that can help fight cavities and add even more calcium to your diet. Due to this, leafy greens help keep your teeth strong. If you’re tired of salads and want more ways to add in leafy greens, try adding them to smoothies or sneaking them into a soup! You will hardly be able to taste them and still get all the benefits they provide. 

4.Yogurt 

High in good bacteria, yogurt can be a probiotic-filled option to add to your diet. In addition to being loaded with calcium, the good bacteria that comes along with yogurt can help your body in a number of ways. From helping with digestion, to leveling out the bacteria in your mouth, you should be adding more yogurt into your diet for a number of health reasons. It will help fight the bad bacteria found in your mouth, which means it can help fight off cavities and decay caused by an overwhelming number of bad bacteria. 

5.Sugar-free Chewing Gum 

Chewing gum, only the sugar-free kind, can help protect the teeth and gums in-between meals when you don’t have time to clean your teeth by brushing. Did you know that after you eat you are more at risk of an acid attack? Acid is produced by plaque bacteria along with what we eat and drink. After we eat, all of what we consume is just sitting on our teeth. Chewing a sugar-free piece of gum can help the mouth produce more saliva, which is the body’s natural defense against acid. 

Foods to Avoid for a Healthy Smile 

Now that you know some foods to add in daily to help your dental health, let’s discuss the foods that you should try to limit. We’re not saying avoid them altogether, but limiting them will help protect your mouth.

Soda

Soda is loaded with sugar and is highly acidic. All of this combines with the bacteria in your mouth and attacks your teeth. Even if you’re drinking a sugar-free soda, it’s still acidic and can damage your teeth. If you are someone who enjoys multiple sodas a day, try cutting back to just one a day for the sake of your teeth. Eventually, the goal is to wean yourself off to only having a fizzy pop on occasion. 

Hard candy 

Again, the sugar comes into play here, but the main problem is the sticky, chewy nature of most hard candies. The stickiness in combination with the hard texture of the candy not only causes cavities, but it also puts you at risk for a broken tooth while eating them.

Citrus fruits

Fruits in the citrus family like oranges, lemons, limes, and grapefruits, are a good source of things like vitamin C, which is good for our immune health, but because they’re highly acidic they’re not good for our teeth. Foods like these fruits can damage our enamel over time, causing tooth sensitivity and other dental problems. 

Makes an Appointment with Dr. Ania

If you have made these changes to your diet but still think your oral health could improve, make an appointment to come see Dr. Ania! Whether it’s for your regular cleaning or you have other dental issues you’d like to discuss, Dr. Ania is here for all of your dental needs. Call today to get on your way to a healthy smile: (303)-872-9940.