When people think of their health, they sometimes forget about dental health. But what you need to know is having good dental health could have a great effect on your overall well-being. To maintain optimum dental health, you have to know the best foods to eat and the worst foods to avoid as they may affect your mouth, gums, and teeth. Sometimes, while you think you’re making healthy choices in food, you might be actually eating the ones that are detrimental to your dental health.
This is the reason it’s important to visit the best dentist near you. As an example, if you live in Auckland or the surrounding cities, check out the best dentist Auckland. With the help of a reliable dentist, you’d not only be aware of the things to know about your current dental condition. You’d also know the proper way of taking care of your oral health, including what to eat and what to avoid.
But besides what your dentist would advise, here is a list of the best and worst foods to note if you wish to keep your mouth, gums, and teeth strong and healthy.
Best Foods For Dental Health
- Yogurt
Dairy is rich in protein and calcium and may increase your mouth’s pH level, minimizing the risk of tooth decay. However, when compared to some dairy products like cheese and milk, yogurt also has probiotics, which are essential microorganisms that could crowd out the bacteria that cause cavities. Just ensure you consume plain yogurts only without any added sugar to enjoy better mouth health and to keep your gums and teeth healthy.
- Leafy Vegetables And Crunchy Fruits
Vegetables that are crunchy and rich in fiber don’t only provide essential nutrients. But because of their texture, eating them could also boost your dental health. For example, cucumbers, raw carrots, green beans, snap peas, and celery are chewing foods that could clean your gums and teeth. Crispy vegetables also have the ability to scrape away plaque that may build up between meals.
While bright in color, fruits and vegetables won’t stain your teeth. Instead, they clean your teeth as you eat them.
- Oily Fish
Fishes, like sardines and mackerel, are full of phosphorus, omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, and vitamin D, which are all essential elements to achieve oral health. Phosphorus could protect the tooth enamel, while omega-3 fatty acids may lessen the risk of gum disease. On the other hand, vitamin D could help with calcium absorption, which could strengthen the teeth.
- Nuts
Nuts are rich in phosphorus and calcium, which could be beneficial for your dental health. The natural fats in seeds and nuts could shield against bacteria and coat your teeth. The oils in the seeds may also help strengthen your tooth enamel, which could make your teeth resistant to cavities.
Worst Foods For Your Dental Health
- Soda
It’s no secret that drinking a lot of sodas may breed cavities. What’s less known is that the acids in carbonated soft drinks may harm your teeth more than sugar could. Even sugar-free diet sodas that contain phosphoric and citric acid may erode enamel once consumed in huge doses.
If you enjoy soda and couldn’t live without it, the best way to consume it is to drink it during your meals instead of sipping it throughout the day. This is because the food you eat could neutralize the soda’s acid.
- Candies
Sticky candies could be worse for your teeth as they stick for a long time, enabling the bacteria in your mouth to feast leisurely on the sugar. On the other hand, although hard candies don’t cling to the teeth, they don’t dissolve quickly and may saturate your mouth several times, allowing bacteria to produce acid that’s harmful to your teeth.
- Citrus
Fruits with citrus may be rich in vitamin C, but they’re very acidic and may erode the tooth enamel. So before eating grapefruits or oranges or squeezing a lemon or lime into your drink, better think twice. If possible, eat citrus fruits moderately and consider gargling with water afterward.
- Coffee
Along with red wine, beets, and soy sauce, coffee is a major culprit for tooth staining. However, this isn’t the only reason coffee contributes to poor dental health. Coffee may dry your mouth, which could result in bad breath because of the absence of saliva to wash away bacteria.
If you add creamer to your coffee, it could make things even worse. The biggest problem with coffee creamers is they’re full of sugar, and many people drink several cups of coffee throughout the day. It’s the same as consuming some high-sugar drinks all day, as well as bathing your teeth in a sugary substance. Thus, after drinking red wine or coffee, don’t forget to drink water to lessen the downsides of this dehydrating beverage.
Conclusion
Good dental hygiene practices and regular dental check-ups would help you reduce the damaging effects caused by staining, sticky, and acidic foods. And by consuming more leafy greens, water, and crunchy fruits regularly, you could improve not just your body but also your overall health.