Is Nutritious Food Good Enough to Keep Your Teeth Healthy?

Every food or beverage that comes in contact with your mouth affects your teeth in a certain way. While some foods have beneficial effects, others can seriously damage your enamel and further cause cavities alongside serious oral health problems if not treated in time. According to statistics, over 90% of adults over the age of 30 have some stage of active gum disease which is the leading cause of tooth loss and other oral problems. Troublingly, people with gum disease are 3 times more likely to have a major cardiovascular event. Therefore, it’s essential that you become familiar with the foods that are nutritious for your body but also protect your teeth from cavities. As you age your mouth ages too, but if you keep your teeth as healthy as possible you can do wonders for your oral health, that is why it is important to make sure regular dental checkups under your health plan or with your Medicare Advantage provider is made to keep everything strong and healthy.

Cheese

Foods rich in calcium such as dairy products are one of the best teeth-friendly food options. If you get enough calcium during the day, which is between 1,000 and 1,300 milligrams for every adult, you’ll be less likely to develop gum disease. Hard aged cheeses are filled with calcium, vitamin K, magnesium, vitamin D and phosphorus which will all benefit your teeth and protect them from plaque invasion. Thanks to its ability to combat acid erosion of the teeth cheese is basically a number one food for your teeth together with the milk of course. If you spend a day eating sweets, bread or citrus, make sure you have a slice of cheese after to counteract the acid left behind.

Citrus

Citrus fruits are an important part of everyone’s diet because they provide a wonderful vitamin boost to your immune system while also slowing down the progression of gum disease by reducing inflammation. However, you may want to limit your citrus intake to a few times a week, instead of having a lemonade or freshly squeezed orange juice every day. Being exposed to acidic foods too often can erode enamel, making teeth more susceptible to decay in the long run. So, as long as you’re having vitamin C in moderation, you’ll be all right. If you eat citrus with a meal – as opposed to on their own – they won’t be able to harm your teeth too much. Drinking plenty of water can help rinse off the citric acid, so make sure you’re satisfying your daily intake of H2O.

Nuts

Almonds and nuts are rich in calcium and vitamin D just as milk and cheese, which makes them a great food choice which will protect your teeth and be nutritious for your body. However, if your teeth are already fragile, or you’re wearing braces, nutty crunchy foods shouldn’t be your first choice, because they can cause problems with the wires. Also, using oral health care products such as fluoride toothpaste, dental floss and mouth wash is imperative to protect your already fragile teeth, or prevent any serious damage to your healthy teeth and gums. Fluoride will harden tooth enamel, and slow gentle motions of flossing will remove all the food particles that stuck after meals, making sure your mouth is bacteria free.

Healthy fats

An anti-inflammatory diet is the best recipe for a healthy oral cavity, and healthy fats are precisely the number one component of that type of diet. Fatty fish such as salmon, along with avocado and olive oil are all the perfect examples of healthy fats that you should make a part of your everyday diet in order to fuel your body with nutritious food and protect your teeth from cavities. Feel free to consult with your orthodontist or a dietitian if you’re not sure how to mix those foods best with other ingredients.

Which food to avoid

Aside from sugary sweets, sodas, and alcohol that have a high concentration of sugar and can make you gain weight in addition to damaging your enamel, you should also avoid drinking too much coffee. While it is a great diuretic and boosts metabolism, caffeinated coffee is highly likely to stain your teeth and dry out your mouth. If you’re an avid coffee and tea drinker, make sure you drink plenty of water after to diminish the effects of staining at least to a certain extent. Avoid molasses, raisins, honey and other sticky food that can cling to the surface of your teeth increasing the risk of cavities. Potato chips and bread will do the same, so if you eat them always drink milk or water along and brush your teeth afterward. While a glass of red wine is good for your health, it’s not a great friend to your teeth, because of the color pigments called chromogens which stain the teeth. So, don’t make a habit of drinking too much wine every day, but indulge yourself from time to time, and make sure you drink water after to prevent teeth staining,

Final thoughts

Oral health should be your priority because various health problems can come from damaged teeth. Therefore, make sure you know which foods are good for your teeth and your body, and which you should avoid or at least try to eat less then you have been taking them so far. Also, regardless of the food you eat, make sure you take good care of your oral hygiene, brush, floss and rinse your mouth thoroughly at least twice a day if you want to protect your teeth from harmful bacteria. You would definitely not want to have your teeth damaged to an extent that you would have to consider looking at services that bear a likeness to the ones which provide the best dental implants in Beverly Hills! Oral health is an issue that should not be taken lightly and so, get to regular brushing and flossing!

Guest Post by Helen Bradford who is a student from Sydney, Australia who enjoys writing about beauty, health, food, and lifestyle.