Your oral health can have far-reaching effects in terms of your overall health and well-being. Most people are under the impression that brushing and flossing alone is the best thing that you can do to ensure that your mouth remains healthy. However, this view is reductive; there are several factors that come into play when it comes to ensuring your oral health. One of the biggest contributors that you might not have previously considered is your diet. Eating the right foods can have a huge impact on your dental health.
Keep reading to learn more about the best foods for your teeth.
Food & Your Dental Health
Eating too much of the wrong things can greatly increase your risk of developing any number of serious oral conditions and diseases. For example, eating a lot of sugary or processed food leads to a build-up of dental plaque and cavities. This happens because the bacteria in the mouth feed off these simple sugars, which eventually turn into an acid plaque damaging the teeth. If the plaque is left to itself for too long and not properly removed, it then turns into tartar. This can lead to gingivitis and, in extreme cases, periodontal disease.
Vitamin Dense Foods
Any foods that are high in vitamins like leafy greens, cheese, or nuts – which are all good sources of calcium, or things like meat and eggs, both of which are a great source of phosphorous; can help to strengthen your enamel and keep your teeth healthy. Foods that are high in sugar or acidity can erode the enamel on your teeth over time; however, this enamel can be restored. Eating foods that are high in calcium and phosphate are instrumental in rebuilding enamel by replacing the lost minerals.
More specifically, foods which are high in vitamin D are important for your oral health. This is because vitamin D can act as a preventative measure to stave off a number of periodontal diseases, including periodontitis and gingivitis. Both of which are actually incredibly common dental issues, although if left untreated, they can have a significant impact on your teeth, including the loss of the affected teeth.
Fruit & Veg
Both fruit and vegetables form the basis of a healthy diet which in and of itself is an important part of a healthy lifestyle. Crunchier things like carrots, apples or celery can be extremely beneficial for your teeth. They make your jaw work harder to bite through them, and they can actually clean your teeth while you are chewing them. As a process in general, chewing interrupts the formation of plaque and helps prevent it from occurring. When the foods that you are eating are better for you, like the ones listed above, they can help to protect against any harmful bacteria settling on the surface of your teeth. In short, crunchy fruits and vegetables can be likened to a sort of natural toothbrush. Eating more of them can help to keep your teeth clean throughout the day, so be sure to include them in your snack breaks.
Dairy Products
While this was touched on above, it is worth going into more detail. Dairy products like cheese, yoghurts and milk are absolutely full of calcium and phosphate. Both of which are incredibly important when it comes to strengthening your teeth and bones. Moreover, including a healthy amount of dairy in your diet can help to restore and maintain a healthy PH balance in your mouth, which in turn can offset the effects of sugary and acidic foods. Yoghurts, specifically, are an amazing source of probiotics that can then help to rid your mouth of any lingering bad bacteria. Ideally, you should opt for natural yoghurts without any sugar.
Fluoride
Fluoride is typically found in water; the water in your home may already have a good level of it. It is great for your teeth; it helps to prevent against tooth decay by strengthening your enamel, making your teeth more resistant to attacks from any lingering bacteria. In some cases -although only when caught early enough – fluoride can also help to reverse the effects of tooth decay. Fluoride can often also be found in some commercially produced foods like poultry, seafood or even cereal too.
Black & Green Tea
Some forms of tea can be bad for your teeth, the tannin in tea can stain your teeth, but black and green tea have higher levels of polyphenols. Polyphenols are known to interact with plaque building bacteria. They prevent bad bacteria from growing and multiplying within your mouth and producing the acid which ten attacks the structure of your teeth. Also, depending on the water within your home, brewing the tea can also help you to get more fluoride – if your water at home has good levels.
Things to Avoid
There are some foods and activities which should be avoided as much as you can if you want to ensure your oral hygiene. First and foremost, smoking is terrible for your health and your teeth. Nicotine is incredibly addictive, which is why it is difficult to quit, but it is worth doing if you want to look after your teeth. Drinking alcohol can also have negative effects on your teeth; most forms of alcohol are high in acidity, which attacks the enamel of your teeth. Sugary foods also tend to linger in the mouth, although chocolate is said to be better than things like sweets because it washes out of the mouth more quickly. Fizzy drinks are incredibly high in sugar which weaken the teeth and erode enamel. Finally, starchy foods, which are arguably a necessary diet staple, require thought. They can get trapped between your teeth, and the longer that they are trapped, the more bacteria they introduce, which erodes the teeth.
A Word of Warning
While your diet certainly plays an important role in maintaining your oral health, it is not the only factor at play. The best dental approach is collaborative. It is all about finding a balance between your diet, oral hygiene practices and dental visits. Regular brushing, flossing and mouthwash are vital; it helps to keep your teeth as clean as possible between dental visits by removing and remnants of food from between your teeth. Finally, choosing the right dentist is the last piece of the puzzle. They can not only catch budding dental issues, but they can also advise you of any lifestyle changes that need making. If you don’t have the best history or have issues with your teeth, either aesthetically or health-wise, they can also transform your smile. If you live in or around Fulham, you should consider Fulham Road Dental; you can see the results for yourself. They are great at what they do, and they offer a huge range of dental services.
In The End
Your oral hygiene and dental health overall is exceptionally important. Think about everything you use your mouth for on a daily basis; for a lot of people, it is an intrinsic part of life. This is why you should be doing your best to take care of your teeth. Your diet does indeed have a massive impact on the health of your teeth, but it also affects your health overall too.
