What people put into their mouths can affect their overall health. Eating too many calories and not getting enough exercise can lead to problems like being overweight and having conditions like diabetes. There are foods, though, that can be a tremendous aid in helping ensure that they have strong teeth and healthy gums. That’s important, since the teeth and gums are a gateway to the rest of the body and bacteria can flow from there through the bloodstream if there is gum disease.
This is far from a completely comprehensive list, but it should be enough to point people in the right direction.
Here are some of the best foods for healthy teeth and gums.
What to Look For
People should be looking for food that meet at least one of these type of criteria:
- High in Calcium
- High in Vitamin C
- High in Vitamin D
- High in antioxidants
Other examples to search for include those with probiotics, anthocyanins, polyphenols, and arginine. These can play a big part in preventing plaque.
Now for some specific examples:
Cheese
Who doesn’t love cheese? Cheddar cheese is excellent for promoting tooth health, since it has a lot of calcium. An added bonus is that cheese both increases one’s saliva level and decreases acid in their mouth – they wash bacteria out and also discourage plaque from forming. While some love pizza and mozzarella , the hard, aged cheese is the best.
Leafy Greens
Specific leafy greens can have a lot of calcium, vitamins, and folic acid. All of these can be a tremendous boost. One can’t go wrong if they get spinach, broccoli or kale. It all depends on how they are cleaned and prepared though, since doing some things like boiling them can leech nutrients away. Also, beware of doing things like slathering on a lot of dressing to add flavor, since those can wind up damaging one’s teeth and possibly their waistline.
Fish
People can eat these for more than just Omega-3 – there are a lot of other minerals and vitamins here. Fish can be a great source for Vitamin D, which is very crucial. People should look for fatty fishes or wild salmon or tuna. Overall, fish can be quite healthy.. in moderation though, since there might be a mercury issue with some fish. Twice a week should suffice, though pregnant women and young children should have it less.
Meat
Meat eaters can enjoy a nutrient-dense meal. Red meat and organ meat are the two best to get. It’s important to ensure that the meat is cooked properly. This is merely one option for those to consider. There are plenty of other choices out there for those who abstain.
Nuts
While there are a lot of nuts to choose from, a good amount of them have calcium and phosphorus. Almonds are an excellent choice. Cashews and Brazil nuts can fight tooth-decay-causing bacteria. So grab a handful and enjoy….
Sugary foods can be quite a temptation, though. If one absolutely has to have them, doing so right after a meal as a dessert is the best bet, since there will already be an abundance of saliva in the mouth from eating to help wash away food particles.
Yes, these foods can be quite beneficial for one’s overall oral health. There is one sure fire way to get the best results, though – brushing their teeth very soon after eating. This helps keep any natural sugars or other things from attacking the enamel for too long. If it’s nighttime, flossing afterwards is imperative.
As one can plainly see, there are a lot of great choices out there that are also quite delicious. There’s something for nearly everyone’s palate – and eating healthy can go from being a chore to something fun. The best reward is a healthy smile.
The staff at U.S. Dental Medical love eating delicious foods themselves but they also pay close attention to what they eat. They are always glad to discuss nutrition with patients. Give them a call at (614) 252-3181 to make an appointment.
Published By:
US Dental and Medical Care
949 E Livingston Ave,
Columbus, OH 43205
Phone: (614) 252-3181
Website: https://usdentalmedical.com
