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food for healthy teeth

Food That Is Good For Healthy Teeth

What kind of food is good for healthy teeth? In addition to protecting your teeth and keeping them securely in your jaw, good dental health involves caring for the tissues, fibers, mineral-based surfaces, and bone that protect them. For your mouth to remain strong and healthy, it needs nutrition that is low in sugar and starch. It’s important for you to eat whole, nutrient-dense foods to keep it healthy and strong like every other structure in your body.

Following the USDA’s nutritional guidance, which includes recommended amounts of dairy, protein, grains, and fruits and vegetables is a good rule of thumb.

Dental health and nutrition

Children are especially at risk of poor nutrition since it affects nearly every aspect of their health. Too much sugar or starch can cause dental erosion and cavities, while vitamin and protein deficiencies can cause delayed tooth eruption, poor tooth formation, abnormal jaw bone development, bleeding gums, and periodontal disease.

Keeping your teeth healthy with protein

The intake of dietary protein may help your jaw and teeth function properly for a lifetime, along with calcium, certain fatty acids, and vitamin C and D. In bone mineral density, or BMD, protein is an important component, because it helps repair tissue and build bone. If your bone mineral density is healthy, it indicates that your bones are strong enough to support your body structure and prevent fractures. Osteoporosis is often associated with low BMD levels.

Since poor dental health is often characterized by inflammation of the periodontal ligaments and bone loss or weakening in the jaw, which mimics the damage caused by osteoporosis, scientists believe that BMD may also be linked to poor dental health. Increased dietary protein intake can improve BMD, so you may be able to maintain a healthy periodontal structure by eating more dietary protein. In addition to consuming more dietary protein, it is also important to consume healthy, whole foods that contain calcium and vitamin D for oral health.

No matter how well you eat and drink, be sure to maintain good oral health practices like twice-daily brushing, daily flossing, and regular dental cleanings.

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What are the best foods for your teeth?

Your entire body benefits from foods that are good for your teeth. For healthy teeth, you can eat low-fat cheese, fat-free or low-fat milk, plain yogurt, and leafy greens, all of which are high in calcium and other nutrients. Furthermore, foods high in protein, such as eggs, fish, meat, and poultry, can enhance your bone density and protect the enamel on your teeth.

It is important to note that foods containing fiber and water, like fruits and vegetables, not only stimulate saliva, which washes away food particles, neutralizes acids, and prevents decay, but also balances out the sugar you may be eating. Water, especially fluoridated water, is always a good choice for beverages.

As a result of drinking fluoridated water, you’ll be able to repair your enamel, flush away food particles from hard-to-reach areas, and produce saliva, which will keep your teeth clean and harmful bacteria at bay.

Which foods strengthen enamel?

Teeth are protected from decay and daily stress by enamel, a thin, hard mineral coating that protects them from chewing, biting, grinding, and crunching. Although enamel is one of the strongest and hardest materials in your body, acids and sugars in certain food and drinks can erode it, weaken it, or destroy it. Once it’s gone, it is impossible to regenerate it.

There are, however, some foods and habits that can help you preserve and strengthen your enamel, regardless of whether you are experiencing enamel erosion.

  • Sugar-free chewing gum helps promote saliva production
  • Fruits and vegetables high in fiber
  • Foods high in protein help promote stronger teeth
  • Food or beverages with fluoride help repair eroded enamel
  • Fat-free or low-fat dairy products like milk and cheese

What fruit strengthens my teeth?

Fruit contains vitamins C and other antioxidants that help neutralize bacteria that lurk on your teeth and wait to cause cavities. These nutrients can be found in grapefruit, oranges, strawberries, cranberries, kiwis, and apples, which are high in these nutrients. You should be aware that citrus fruits and tomatoes, which contain highly acidic compounds, can erode enamel when consumed alone, so eat them as part of a meal or cooked down to remove some of their acidity.

Fresh fruits are always preferred to dried fruits, which tend to be sticky and contain a significant amount of sugar, salt, or other preservatives.

Is there anything I can eat that will strengthen my teeth?

It takes a variety of nutrients and minerals to keep teeth strong, including calcium, vitamins A, C, and D, protein, and phosphorus. Eggs, lean meats, nuts, beans, green leafy vegetables, and fish are good sources of these nutrients. In addition to strengthening your teeth, you can eat crunchy foods like nuts and carrots, but avoid crunching ice as it can break or crack your enamel.

Is there any food that is bad for your teeth?

The worst foods for your dental health are foods that contain a lot of sugar and don’t have much nutritional value. These include candy, sweets, and even savory snack foods like crackers and chips. Sugary drinks like soda and juice should also be avoided since they are rich in sugar and carbs, which stick to your teeth and provide a veritable feast for harmful bacteria that cause plaque and cavities.

Sipping sugary drinks, unlike eating sugary foods, allows sugar to wash over every part of your teeth and gums, including hard-to-reach in-between spaces, increasing your risk of tooth decay and cavities.

These dietary habits and factors may contribute to tooth decay and cavities:

  • Your consumption of high-sugar, starchy, or acidic foods and beverages
  • You should vary the combination of foods you consume and/or the order in which you eat them
  • Food’s texture and makeup, such as whether it is solid, slow to dissolve, sticky, or liquid
  • There are a number of medical conditions that can weaken teeth and increase the risk of cavities, such as eating disorders or acid reflux
  • Brushing or flossing after meals
  • Your snacking habits and the types of foods you eat between meals

You can keep your teeth healthy by eating fresh foods rather than packaged or processed foods, and limit your beverage choices to fluoridated water or unsweetened tea as often as possible. Include vitamin- and nutrient-rich foods in every meal and avoid foods and beverages that are too sugary or starchy.

If you have any other questions and/or would like to schedule an appointment for your child, click here or call us: 702-586-4347

Call us and schedule your child’s appointment today: (702)586-4347