As soon as you start eating, changes get underway in your mouth. While everyone has mouth bacteria, this bacteria becomes active when you eat sugars and carbohydrates, converting these into an acid. It’s this acid that starts to attack tooth enamel, and the decay process begins. The good news? There are plenty of healthy food options you can include in your diet to keep your dental health in top form!
Water – This is the best drink for keeping your teeth and mouth clean and healthy. Fluoridated water, in particular, helps make teeth resistant to the acid that can cause cavities. Milk and unsweetened tea are also good options. Try to limit drinking sugary soft drinks or soda, lemonade, coffee, or drinks with added sugar.
- Sugarless or sugar-free – Be warned! Foods with these terms only mean that no sugar was added during processing. Plenty of foods have natural sweeteners that can kick-start the growth of bacteria that can lead to cavities and decay. Keep an eye out for food with ingredients like honey, fructose or barley malt as they can have the same amount of sugar as foods with added sweeteners.
- Dairy – Milk, cheese, and yogurts that are low in sugar are a good thing for your dental health! In addition to being full of calcium, dairy foods and drinks also provide protein that can help strengthen your teeth and remineralize your tooth enamel.
- Fruits & vegetables – Nature’s toothbrush! Not only good for a balanced diet, but fruits and vegetables are also good for your teeth! Chewing helps stimulate saliva, which washes away harmful food particles and acids. Fruits and vegetables are high in fiber and water, help balance other sugars you might eat, and actually help clean the teeth as you crunch away!
- Nuts – Carbohydrates often activate tooth decay from acid-producing bacteria. Nuts, however, are a great snack because they are low in carbs plus their crunchy texture helps to stimulate saliva that can help reduce tooth decay. You may not have thought about it before, but generating additional saliva is a good way to have a healthy mouth!
Sugarless chewing gum – If you need a snack or are looking for a breath freshener, sugarless chewing gum is a great option! Beneficial to your teeth, sugarless gum will help you dislodge food after a snack or meal and will increase saliva flow to neutralize mouth acids.
Is it time that your grocery list had a dental makeover with smile-friendly foods? There are plenty of delicious options – from nutrient dense vegetables to tasty yogurts to crunchy fruits – that will help you take care of your teeth and avoid decay and disease!
