Brush at least twice a day – that is the common advice of dentists. It cleans away the plaque and maintains the health and integrity of your gums and teeth. Gum disease and tooth decay are no joke, after all.
Did you ever wonder if there were any foods out there that you can eat with abandon without worrying about your oral health? Recent studies recommended the following healthy foods for the teeth, so read on:
1. Sugarless Gum
Yes, gum can be healthy, as long as you stick to the sugarless kind. We all know that sugar is bad for the teeth, and if we were wise, we would have listened to our parents when they cautioned us against those lollipops and candies when we were young. However, if you have a sweet tooth that craves to be satisfied, there are tons of sugar substitutes out there that give you that sweet deliciousness, without giving you tooth decay.
Chewing gum also induces the production of saliva, which helps in dislodging food particles and neutralizing the acids in your mouth.
2. Dairy products, such as milk, yogurt, and cheese
Eat calcium-rich foods for your bones and teeth. Just as calcium helps in fortifying your bones, it also helps reduce the risk of tooth decay.
Not fond of drinking plain old boring milk? Try milk-rich dishes such as soups, instead that can also help hydrate you and cheese is an especially calcium-rich option that actually works to strengthen your tooth enamel as you chew them.
Yogurt also contains calcium, and it has beneficial bacteria that can fight against and defeat the destructive bacteria that destroy your teeth enamel. Yogurt is also good for your overall immune system.
3. Fruits and Vegetables
Try to eat your fruits and vegetables as freshly as you can, with as little preservatives as possible, so you can enjoy the benefits that they can offer for your teeth.
Fruits and vegetables contain fiber, which naturally cleanses your teeth as well as your digestive system. They’re also rich in vitamins and minerals, such as Vitamins C and A, iron, and calcium. If you substitute raw apples and carrots, for instance, to those salty and sweet snacks, you can keep plaque build-up to a minimum. Chewing on these hard snacks also produces saliva. Their fiber content helps clean your teeth, and you also get additional water in your system, which is always a good thing.
That leads us to the last item on our list: water.
4. Water
We all know that nobody can survive for long without water. Water is life itself, but how does it promote healthy teeth?
Aside from the obvious fact that it helps wash away any accumulated food particles that may have stuck in our teeth, it keeps our mouths wet, which may reduce the buildup of bacteria that caused bad breath.
Drinking water also keeps our gums healthy, soft and resilient, and the whitest teeth in the world will do you no good if your gums are weak and fragile. All the healthy foods in your diet won’t work quite so well if you aren’t properly hydrated.
So stock up on these healthy foods for the teeth and reduce the chances of having to pay another painful visit to your dentist.
