Bad nutrition not only affects the quality of your smile but also disturbs your oral health. Of course, it will not only affect your oral health but will affect your overall health as well. The right type of food will add to your overall health and strengthen your teeth, contributing to more healthy teeth.
If you are looking to minimize harm to your tooth enamel, avoid tooth decay, maintain your oral health, and live a better life, you should know about all the food groups and promote strong teeth. Here is what you must know about promoting healthy teeth with the best nutrient-rich foods.
Overall Care Starts with the Right Foods
The appearance of your teeth largely determines the way your smile looks. Therefore one must take good care of their teeth. In addition to brushing twice every day and flossing regularly, good nutrition is also a very important part of dental care.
Certain foods are loaded with wonderful nutrients for the gums and teeth; these are the best foods for a healthy smile. Likewise, one must avoid foods if one wants to maintain great dental hygiene.
What are the best foods for better oral health?
The best foods for a healthy smile contain certain nutrients to improve oral health. Some of the nutrients include:
- Calcium
- Chloride
- Vitamin C
- Keratins
- Phosphorous
- Vitamin D
- Fiber
- Folic acid
- Iron
- Thiamine
- Magnesium
- Niacin
- Vitamin E
- Vitamin B6
- Potassium
- Zinc
- Polyphenol
Certain foods contain the nutrients mentioned earlier in sufficient proportions, and eating these foods could ultimately help improve your smile.
These foods include:
Fatty Fish, Tofu and MeatsÂ
Tofu and fatty fishes such as salmon are rich in phosphorus. This nutrient protects the enamel. Likewise, certain kinds of meat provide nutrients that are great for oral hygiene. These meats enable the mouth to produce a lot of saliva, which decreases acidity in the mouth, thereby preventing tooth decay.
Yogurt, Milk, and Cheese
Yogurt contains a whole lot of probiotics and calcium. These nutrients fight against gum disease, bad breath, and cavities in the mouth. Likewise, milk is calcium-rich and possesses other important nutrients that help fight tooth decay. The same goes for cheese, which is calcium-rich and contains a lot of phosphates. These nutrients also help improve saliva production, which keeps mouth bacteria at bay.
Nuts
Nuts are loaded with lots of essential elements such as phosphorus and calcium. Some specific nuts to stock up on are cashews, Brazil nuts, peanuts, and almonds for good dental health. The nutrients in these nuts do an excellent job of fighting off bacteria that causes tooth decay. These nuts contain essential nutrients such as vitamin D, calcium, iron, vitamin E, potassium, zinc, vitamin B6, thiamine, fiber, and folic acid.
Fluoridated Water Helps to Tooth Enamel
Drinking is inevitable in everyday life. Some people love to drink water, and people who’d instead drink anything else than water. However, unlike any other drink, water is 100% healthy for the teeth and the entire body. Water containing fluoride can be more beneficial for the teeth because fluoride does a great job-fighting cavity. Drinking water could also help remove food particles from your mouth after a meal and aid saliva production, which keeps mouth bacteria away.
Dark Green Leafy Vegetables and Crunchy Vegetables
Leafy vegetables such as lettuce, spinach, kale, and the veggies in fresh green salads, among others, are loaded with folic acids, calcium, and other vitamins and minerals that promote good oral health and help clean your teeth.
Likewise, chewy, crunchy vegetables do an excellent job of cleaning your tooth surface while you chew on them. They also encourage saliva production to keep bacteria away and are loaded with vitamins and minerals that improve oral health.
Carrots, for instance, are loaded with vitamin C, keratins, and calcium which help fight cavities; chewing on them helps keep the teeth’ surface clean.
Foods to Avoid for Healthy Teeth
You know all about the best foods for a healthy smile; however, you should also know the kind of foods to avoid for a healthy smile. These foods include sticky foods, acidic foods, sugary foods, very healthy foods, and high starch content.
What foods should you be aware of, and how should you maximize your overall care?
Sports Drinks and Soda
Sugary drinks are an easy way to supply tooth-decay causing bacteria into your mouth. These drinks are not only sugar-loaded. They are also acidic. Acidic drinks attack the enamel surface and can slowly deteriorate this precious element.
Caffeine and Alcohol
Caffeinated and alcoholic drinks slow down the production of saliva in the mouth. Saliva helps remove bacteria from the mouth, which means that a dry mouth is a breeding ground for tooth-decay causing bacteria. Asides from this, caffeinated drinks can also stain your teeth, while some dark-colored beverages such as colas are capable of turning your teeth brown or yellow. These drinks can also cause bad breath because they keep the mouth dry.
Candy
Candy contains a lot of sugar which is bad for the teeth. It’s also sticky, which sometimes sticks to the front of the teeth and between teeth, causing tooth decay. We all want to have a simple snack and get a quick energy boost. At the same time, it is necessary to think about your gum health and the food particles floating around in your teeth and gums.
If you want to preserve your healthy teeth, remember to choose a healthy snack like crunchy foods and protein foods to minimize the rise of cavity-causing bacteria in your system. The right diet of good raw vegetables coupled with fat-free milk, low-fat foods, and minimal foods with added sugar can help to avoid further dental issues.
Work with Dr. Jack Nagrani Today For Strong Teeth in Hanford, CA
Our professionals prioritize your teeth and gums and want to make sure that you avoid gum disease. If you are looking to maintain health for your whole body, including your teeth and gums, think about eating well to obtain the right nutrition for your system.
Visit our dental office today to learn more about what you should eat and obtain the necessary treatments and care that you need to keep your teeth in great shape. If you are looking for more guidance in maintaining your health and obtaining more professional assistance in taking care of your teeth with cleanings and more, contact Dr. Jack Nagrani today at (559) 422-6027.