16 Apr Eat This, Not That: The Best and Worst Foods for Teeth
A healthy diet is made up primarily of vegetables, fruits, dairy, protein, and healthy grains. A healthy diet coupled with the appropriate daily oral hygiene regimen and regular visits with your family dentist can help you maintain great oral health.
Healthy Foods
The variety of fresh vegetables available year round can be supported by frozen vegetables when your favorites are out of season. Salads are great as long as you don’t overdo the unhealthy toppings.
Fresh fruits are healthier than their canned counterparts or juiced as their sugar content is minimized.
Dairy products like milk, yogurt, and cheese are great sources of vitamin D.
Protein comes in many forms from meat, fish, and poultry; nuts and beans are a great source as well.
Healthy grains are available in different bread products, and choose cereals that are not loaded with sugar, brown rice, and quinoa (to name a few).
The healthiest beverage you can drink is water. You can add fresh fruit or sugar free flavorings to add variety. Unsweetened coffee and tea are acceptable.
Foods to Avoid
Many prepackaged foods are loaded with sugar. Sugars cling to the bacteria already present on teeth. Bacteria that grow on teeth can harden, turning into plaque. Plaque contains acid that can eat away at the protective enamel on teeth resulting in the potential for dental decay or the onset of gum disease.
Sweets like candy, cookies, cake, etc. are sugar laden. Crackers, chips, and many snack foods are not intended for daily consumption.
Soda and sweetened beverages can promote decay. But don’t think diet soda is any better. The acids in all soda can damage dental enamel.
If you drink a sweet drink or soda, use a straw to allow the beverage to bypass your teeth. Do not sip on sugary beverages; drink quickly.
Oral Health Care
While you should try to limit those sugary snacks and/or beverages to special occasions, make sure to rinse following consumption. There are disposable toothbrushes available that would allow you to brush on the run; be aware that brushing too soon following consumption of certain foods may damage softened dental enamel. To maintain optimum oral health, follow a healthy diet; brush twice each day with a fluoridated toothpaste; floss daily; and visit our family dentist twice a year for cleaning and dental exam.
Contact our office at Aesthetic Dental Partners today!