Regular brushing and flossing are crucial to supporting healthy teeth and gums by eliminating food particles and bacteria that form plaque.
Plaque produces acid which damages tooth enamel and can lead to cavities and gum disease.
In the end, as the gum tissue tugs away from the teeth, the bacteria may destroy the bone beneath that supports the teeth, causing a tooth to be lost
Of course, visiting your dentist and taking your children to their pediatric dentist in Wilkes Barre, or wherever you happen to live, for cleanings and exams every six months is essential too.
But did you know that some foods can also help protect your teeth in between those visits?
Best Foods To Tooth Health and Protection
Cheese
Cheese is rich in minerals such as calcium, phosphorous and protein, which can help build stronger bones and repair teeth. It’s also believed to neutralize plaque acid. Acidic beverages and foods can cause tiny lesions on tooth enamel, but calcium and phosphorous help to redeposit minerals back into those lesions.
A study published in the journal Academy of General Dentistry found that participants age 12 through 15 who ate cheddar cheese had acid levels in their mouths that were lower than those who drank a glass of milk or consumed sugar-free yogurt.
Garlic
While garlic is famous for resulting in the breath that’s not so pleasant, its antimicrobial properties can help to fight off bacteria in your mouth.
That’s because it contains the compound called allicin, which is known to inhibit periodontitis, a severe gum infection that causes damage to soft tissue and destroys bone that supports the teeth. If you don’t want to have bad breath, chew a sprig of parsley after eating garlic to alleviate those effects.
Carrots
By munching on raw carrots, it will help to stimulate saliva which naturally cleanses the mouth. Those vibrantly-hued veggies are also jam-packed with vitamin A, which is essential for healthy tooth enamel.
Celery
Similar to carrots, celery acts kind of like a toothbrush by helping to scrape bacteria and food particles away from your teeth. It also contains a right amount of vitamin A and vitamin C, essential for gum health.
Leafy Greens
Leafy greens have such a wide range of health benefits; it’s no surprise that they can help protect your teeth too.
Greens like spinach, kale, and arugula promote oral health as they contain a right amount of calcium, which builds teeth's enamel as well as folic acid, a type of B vitamin that provides multiple health benefits, treating gum disease.
Cranberries
A study printed in 2004 in the Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy found that cranberry juice helped to stop the growth of the group of bacteria that builds up on the teeth and throughout the mouth, causing gum disease and tooth decay.
The key is to consume fresh cranberries or 100% cranberry juice as much cranberry-based products like cranberry juice cocktail contains loads of sugar which defeat the benefits.
Almonds
Almonds are an excellent source of both protein and calcium as well as being low in sugar which makes them great for keeping teeth strong and healthy.
Stay tuned for more tips!
