5 Best Foods for Dental Health

Have you ever seen elderly folks with failing teeth, even though you knew they religiously brushed, flossed, and had regular dental visits? Sure, those healthy activities surely helped them keep their teeth healthier for a longer time, but time does take its toll, regardless. So we most often conclude it just must be part of aging. But you can keep your healthy smile many years longer if you consider one other important factor: the foods you choose to eat. But, of course! It only makes sense that the foods we constantly expose our gums and enamel to might impact our oral health. But…why don’t we hear much about it? I’m just guessing, but maybe it’s because it’s hard enough to get the masses to brush and floss, and things like eating the right foods becomes non-priority when it comes to the general public’s oral health education. Yet there’s nothing like getting proactive in your own health, and going above and beyond the general basic education given to the masses. It’s time to start monitoring the foods we consume, because they do significantly influence our oral health. Foods that Help Prevent Dental Problems: 1. Cheese Besides being low in carbohydrates, cheese is high in phosphate and calcium, which, due to their low acidity, help balance your mouth’s pH. Cheese also is great for producing extra saliva, which helps remove bacteria; and cheese also protects and rebuilds tooth enamel. Other dairy products share these benefits as well, such as milk and plain yogurt. 2. Celery This is one of those vegetables that requires extra chewing, which causes us to produce extra saliva, and helps neutralize the acidity of our mouth’s cavity-causing bacteria. The abrasiveness of this food also helps to clean our teeth and gums while we are chewing on it. 3. Onions One of natures great medicinal foods, these pungent vegetables have antibacterial sulfur compounds that kill off several different types of bacteria. Eating them cooked does offer dental health benefits, but onions offer the greatest bacteria fighting power when eaten raw. 4. Kiwis, Oranges or Strawberries Kiwis offer more vitamin C than almost any other fruit of that size. A lack of vitamin C in your diet causes the collagen in your gums to become weak, which makes your gum line vulnerable to the bacterias that cause periodontal disease, or gingivitis. You can also benefit from strawberries or oranges, which are jam packed with vitamin C, as well. 5. Foods with fluoride Drinking fluoridated water isn’t the only way to obtain fluoride for your teeth. Many products can be made with fluoridated water, and still give you fluoride benefits, such as condensed or dehydrated soups and instant cereals that call for water in the directions. Regularly consuming the foods listed above helps to counteract the foods you eat that contain high amounts of acid or sugar (which produce more decay and bacteria in your mouth). Of course, as with anything, moderation is key. But consistently making the right food choices will help you maintain a healthy grill, now and into the future. ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Sera Filson is a health enthusiast, writer, professional student, and proud mother who’s currently pursing a B.A. in Business Management. When she’s not writing, exercising, or studying, she enjoys reading about body contouring and being a fan of Sono Bello on Indeed.com. Herpes 1: STD TESTING SAN DIEGO | Get The Lowdown On Stretching | Has Smoking Cessation Hypnosis Worked for YOU? Tags: dental care, dental health, dental hygiene, teeth foods This entry was posted on Friday, June 10th, 2011 at 2:18 pm and is filed under Dental. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.