The Right Foods To Eat For Good Oral Health

Proper dental hygiene and the management of your oral health does not simply stop with regular brushing and flossing! In order to fully commit to keeping your teeth beautiful and healthy, it is important to understand what sort of diet promotes a healthy smile.

Avoiding Sugar

The first factor to maintaining oral health is to avoid foods and beverages that contain a considerable amount of sugar. Carbonated beverages and candy are just two examples of foods that promote an acidic and dangerous environment in the mouth. When foods with a high sugar content are not properly removed from the surface from your teeth, the enamel is broken down, and the tooth structure begins to decay. If left untreated, this decay has the potential to progress, causing pain and sensitivity.

Fruits And Vegetables

We all know that fruits and vegetables have various health benefits for our bodies! What many people do not know is that fruits and vegetables have natural cleansing properties, and a “detergent”-like effect on the mouth. Fruits and vegetables also stimulate saliva. Saliva helps neutralize acids and starches in the mouth, which acts as a natural defense against cavities and further decay.

Dairy Products

Growing up, we all heard the same line from our mothers: “drink your milk so that your bones can become nice and strong!” The honest truth is that your mother was right! Milk, cheese, and other dairy products are excellent sources of calcium, and are considered some of the best foods to eat to properly manage your oral health. In addition to providing nutrients and minerals crucial to the development and maintenance of your teeth, dairy products also stimulate saliva.

Fluoride

It is clinically proven fluoride helps strengthen and protect the tooth enamel. Most of the drinking water available to us has been treated with fluoride, as well as most tap water. At your regularly scheduled cleaning appointments with your dental hygienist, you can opt to receive a fluoride treatment. Ensuring you are drinking water that has been treated with fluoride is an excellent way to keep the tooth structure strengthened.

With a properly planned diet, you will be able to maintain a healthy and happy smile. Cutting out sugar and starches, along with turning to fruits, vegetables, and dairy products is a small change that has the potential to make a big impact. All of our dentists at Spring Dental can help provide suggestions to designing a healthy diet that will best suit you, your lifestyle, and your teeth. You would be surprised how easy it is to care for your teeth with a delicious and nutritious diet!