A bright, beautiful smile is something most people want. But behind the aesthetics is a set of healthy teeth and gums. Many people don’t realize that your diet can have a significant impact on your dental health. Eating the right foods is integral to helping you maintain strong teeth and prevent problems like cavities, gum disease, and tooth decay. With some simple adjustments to your daily diet, you can help maintain good dental hygiene over the years.
Dairy Products Strengthen Teeth
Calcium and vitamin D—two nutrients found naturally in dairy products—are extremely important for good dental health. Calcium helps strengthen and rebuild tooth enamel, making your teeth more resistant to decay.
Vitamin D improves calcium absorption and promotes enamel mineralization. Choose low- fat sources like milk, yogurt, or cheese for the best benefits. Just remember to cut back on full-fat dairy if you’re watching your weight.
Vitamin C Promotes Healthy Gums
You probably know that vitamin C fends off colds and flu. But did you know it’s also essential for healthy gums and preventing gingivitis? Vitamin C is necessary for collagen production.
Collagen is an important structural protein that keeps connective tissues like gums strong and resilient; a vitamin C deficiency can lead to swollen, bleeding gums. Getting plenty of vitamin C from fruits like oranges, grapefruit and strawberries and vegetables like tomatoes, spinach and broccoli helps maintain healthy gums over time, while preventing periodontal disease.
Antioxidants Reduce Inflammation
Inflammation is implicated in almost every oral health problem, from gingivitis to periodontitis.
Powerful antioxidants like those found in green tea, berries and dark chocolate can help control inflammation levels inside the mouth and reduce damage to gums and bone. The Catechins (a type of flavan-3-ol, which is a secondary metabolite) in green tea are especially potent for removing free radicals. Try sipping unsweetened brewed tea instead of coffee or soda. You may even wish to indulge yourself with antioxidant-rich dark chocolate in moderation—remember to choose low-sugar varieties.
Stay Hydrated with Water
Proper hydration is not only integral to your overall health, but it contributes to improved oral health as well. Drinking plenty of water on a daily basis stimulates optimal saliva flow within the mouth, helping wash away cavity-causing food debris. Your saliva is the body’s natural system to neutralize damaging acids and return minerals like calcium and phosphate to the tooth surfaces.
Staying hydrated protects your tooth enamel and reduces dry mouth, a condition which increases cavities. Drink water throughout the day and limit beverages that can cause dehydration, like coffee, alcohol or soda.
Lean Protein & Phosphorus
Phosphorus is a mineral that plays an impactful role in your dental health, teaming up with calcium to mineralize and strengthen tooth enamel. Low phosphorus intake can lead to teeth that are more susceptible to decay.
Meat, poultry, fish and eggs are excellent sources of phosphorus. However, fatty meats can increase inflammation, so stick to leaner cuts like chicken, turkey and lean red meat. Beans and lentils also supply phosphorus for vegans or vegetarians looking to avoid meat.
Plant-Based Protein & Natural Teeth Cleaning
Take advantage of the numerous health benefits with nuts like almonds or cashews. These offer an excellent snacking alternative with healthy protein and fats, while their crunchy texture helps clean plaque and debris from the surface of your teeth as you chew.
Nuts also contain an impressive array of tooth-healthy nutrients like calcium, vitamin D and phosphorus. And because they’re a plant-based protein, nuts help reduce inflammatory gum disease. Just be mindful of your serving size, as nuts are very calorie dense. A small handful or ounce a day is plenty. Almonds, walnuts and cashews are great options.
Dental Office in Oshawa
Your diet can have a drastic impact on your oral health. Eating the right nutrient-rich foods can help strengthen your teeth while reducing harmful inflammation and bacteria. Include more dairy, fruits, vegetables, nuts and water in your daily diet while limiting sugary and acidic foods that erode tooth enamel.
With some minor adjustments, you can boost your dental hygiene through the foods you eat every day.
Speak with your reputable Oshawa Dentist at KR Dental for all your oral healthcare needs. We also aim to educate our patients with regard to the science of your oral health and ways you can maintain it in the long-term.