5 Foods That Will Benefit Your Teeth
by brianne on January 21, 2010
“You are what you eat.”
If you cringe every time you hear and picture this statement, chances are you might want to make some changes to what you eat. Because really, nobody wants to be a greasy cheeseburger. Not only are your food choices affecting your weight and physical health, they’re also directly impacting the health of your teeth. The good news is that food can be just as helpful as it is harmful, so keeping a few key super foods in mind when considering your oral health can make all the difference.
Foods That Your Teeth Will Thank You For Eating:
Milk, yogurt, and cheese. All of these dairy-based food items are high in calcium and contain phosphate. These two things help strengthen tooth enamel and neutralize the pH of your mouth, protecting it from bacteria that thrive in an acidic environment.
Green tea. This drink contains an antioxidant called “catechin”. Catechins not only eliminate bad breath, but also kill bacteria that turns sugar into plaque. One more benefit? Drinking green tea helps prevent periodontal disease.
Sunflower, pumpkin, or sesame seeds. Chewing on seeds helps protect teeth from bacteria because they are high in natural fats and reinforce enamel.
Kiwis. This little super fruit holds more than 100% of the suggested daily dose of vitamin C. Among other things, vitamin C helps stop your gums from breaking down.
Carrots. Eating something crunchy like carrots or celery particularly after eating a meal will clean the teeth by producing saliva and removing plaque.
And of course, you can never have too much water.
Drinking more water is the easiest way to help save your teeth from bacteria, especially during a busy day. Chase that sugary drink or food item down with some water to keep it from coating your teeth. Plus, drinking water encourages the production of saliva, which is your body’s natural and best defense against bacteria and plaque.
