5 Foods and Drinks That Are Great For Your Teeth
If you’re wanting to put some more focus onto your oral health, then we are here with 5 foods and drinks that are great for your teeth! When you go to your general or cosmetic dental clinic, they will give you more specific advice that is personal to your oral health. However, if you can incorporate more of these foods into your diet (along with less sugar), you can significantly improve your oral health and prolong the life of your teeth. We only get one set of adult teeth, so make sure you care for them properly.
Crunchy Fruits and Veg
Crispy fruits and vegetables, like carrots, celery, apples and pea pods, are fantastic for your teeth, as they help to clean plaque from your teeth and freshen your breath. Fruits and vegetables also contain lots of great antioxidant vitamins, that help to protect gums from cell damage and infection, which are very common when you don’t prioritise your oral health. Plus, this is just a great healthy food in general, so it will do you the world of good!
So, if you eat at least a portion of crunchy fruit and veg a day, it can make a real difference. Cut up carrots and celery into sticks and dip into hummus as a great snack, or try apple slices with peanut butter if you prefer something a bit sweeter. Or, chop them up and add to a salad that you can eat on the side of your meals throughout the week. Your options are endless, but as long as you are eating crunchy fruit and veg in your diet, then you will be doing wonders for your oral health.
Dairy
Any foods and drinks containing dairy are also great for your teeth, such as milk, yoghurt, cheese and cream, as they contain an ingredient called casein proteins which help to protect the enamel on your teeth from decay. Dairy products are also rich in calcium and phosphorus, more minerals that help to repair your teeth. If you don’t eat dairy, then many dairy free products are now fortified with similar minerals and ingredients, so just double check the ingredients to make sure.
So, maybe drink a glass of milk before bed, have yoghurt with your breakfast, drink kefir as a snack or have cheese and crunchy apple as the best snack that will get you crunchy fruit and the benefits of dairy all in one.
Water!
Next up we have a really simple one, which is to drink more water! Water is great for your teeth, as it helps to wash away any leftover food residue or sugar on the teeth. When food or sugar is left in the mouth, the mouth uses those substances to produce acids that attack the enamel on your teeth. This then leads to serious issues like tooth decay and gum disease, so drinking more water is so important. Try to have a glass of water with/after every meal, to remove as much as possible.
Leafy Greens
Leafy greens are another great food for your teeth, as they contain lots of vitamin A and C, which help to improve the health of your gums as well as reducing the buildup of bacteria in the mouth. They also contain iron, which helps to fight bacteria. Not only this, but they are also rich in calcium, again, a mineral that is excellent for helping to strengthen your enamel. They are so easy to incorporate into all elements of your diet, by putting into salads and sandwiches which are delicious with the right salad dressing. Not to mention, leafy greens are fantastic for all elements of your health!
Fatty Fish
Last but not least, fatty fish that contain Omega-3 fatty acids are great for your oral health, as they are a great source of vitamin D that plays a critical role in keeping your teeth and jaw strong. They are also thought to help prevent gum disease. Again, fatty fish like salmon, mackerel, tuna, trout or anchovies are really easy to incorporate into your diet, whether you eat them in pasta dishes, curries, salads, sandwiches or so much more. You should eat around 1.5-2g of omega 3 a day, and to give you an idea, fresh salmon has between 2 and 4g of omega 3 per 100g, whereas tinned salmon has less at around 1.3g per 100g.
So, aim for one portion of fatty fish a day and you will be doing wonders for your oral health. If you’re not a fan of fish, then you should definitely be taking supplements instead, as this is a really important component of a healthy and balanced diet, not just for your oral health but your overall health, too.
