Can you name one food that is known to be excellent for your teeth?
While most people could give you a laundry list of foods that are terrible for your teeth, coming up with foods that benefit your oral health is a tougher question. Not surprisingly, many of these foods that can improve and protect your teeth are smart choices for your body as well. Learn about the foods that are great for your teeth and consider how you can creatively include them in your diet.
Foods are capable of benefitting your teeth in various ways. In some cases, such as with cheese, the calcium in the food is the most beneficial reason for eating it, since calcium is instrumental in repairing the teeth. For apples or carrots, the advantage for your teeth lies in the food’s texture – Simply chewing them yields positive effects for your oral health. No matter how they enhance your smile, these foods each are a worthy snack that won’t harm your teeth.
When preparing a snack or meal, the impact food can have on your dental health is typically on the back burner. But by maintaining a healthy and balanced diet that includes the following foods, you stand a much better chance of keeping your smile bright and strong. Learn about why these foods actually leave your teeth better after eating them.
With their dense texture and significant fiber content, carrots are a major asset for keeping your teeth clean. While they are rich in fiber, that’s not their main advantage. The biggest reason to eat carrots for dental health is that they scrape the debris from your mouth as you chew. Plus, they stimulate the production of your mouth’s natural defense system: saliva. Saliva plays a key role in rinsing your mouth clean of plaque and debris. Next time you need a snack that’s healthy for both body and smile, fill a bag with baby carrots and your teeth will thank you.
Leafy greens are an entire category that includes lettuce, spinach, kale, collard greens, and other veggies. What the leafy greens have in common is potent amounts of calcium, folic acid, and a fibrous texture that requires a lot of chewing – which stimulates protective saliva in the process. Most commonly found on salads, individual leafy greens may also have their own unique culinary properties – two examples include spinach lasagna and chicken and collard greens.
Too often, fruit often gets a bad rep for being high in natural sugars. However, certain fruits like apples actually can support oral well-being. In addition to being an excellent source of fiber and water, apples are especially fibrous, meaning that chewing them scrapes the teeth clean and stimulates the gums. It turns out that an apple a day will keep your dentist away as well.
Another dental superfood that promotes a healthy smile is cheese. A study conducted in a 2013 issue of General Dentistry found that participants who ate cheese had significantly higher pH levels and less tooth decay. Combined with the fact that cheese is rich in both calcium and protein, cheese is one of the best dental foods in existence.
Also Try Sugarless Gum with Xylitol!
While not technically a food, sugarless gum actually benefits your teeth, especially if it contains Xylitol. As in the case with apples and carrots, chewing sugar-free gum stimulates higher saliva production, which in turn washes away bacteria and plaque. Consider chewing sugarless gum with Xylitol on a regular basis and witness the improvements to your oral health.
Those four foods are examples of snacks that are healthy for the teeth and body, but they aren’t the only ones. Numerous other options are available that have benefits for your smile. Dr. Chao has many years of experience in helping patients achieve their highest level of oral health. Visit our dental office in Pleasanton, CA for an exam or for dental treatment that prioritizes your comfort. Dr. Chao and her talented team take pride in restoring patients’ smiles – Contact us!
Dr. Maggie Chao
1475 Cedarwood Lane Suite C
Pleasanton, CA 94566
New Patients:
925-271-4529
Current Patients:
925-425-7545
Monday: 9AM – 4:30PM
Tuesday: Closed
Wednesday: 9AM – 4:30PM
Thursday: Closed
Friday: 9AM – 4:30PM
Saturday: Closed
Sunday: Closed