Water
When discussing nutrition for dental health an obvious starting point come from an important statistic. Up to 60% of the human adult body is water. Therefore, it makes sense to start there. Good hydration helps to distribute nutrients throughout the body. Water also plays a significant role in clearing waste. It keeps your skin healthy, and keeps your muscles pumping. But how does water affect your dental health?
Water washes away food fragments and promotes saliva production. A dry mouth can have negative dental consequences because it is an environment where bacteria can flourish. Drinking water regularly is the single best thing you can do for your oral health, especially if your drinking water contains fluoride. Some cities have removed fluoride from tap water (I.E. City of Waterloo) despite its cavity fighting abilities. If that’s true of your area, you can get fluoride fortified products like toothpaste and mouthwashes. Your dentist may also offer a fluoride rinse after a cleaning or checkup.
Cheese, Milk, and Yogurt
Most dairy products contain lots of calcium, a building block for strong teeth and bones. Cheese also has high levels of casein, a protein that builds up and strengthens tooth enamel. Phosphates that control pH levels in your mouth are also found in cheese, which can preserve tooth enamel.
2nd only to water, milk is an awesome drink for your teeth. Milk reduces acid levels and like cheese, is low in sugar. Milk is also full of calcium and vitamins that help your body absorb calcium (vitamin D). Yogurt usually has more calcium than other dairy products. Probiotics (good bacteria) found in yogurt, not only assists your digestion but also can protect against cavities, gum disease and bad breath.
Crunchy Veggies & Leafy Greens
Vegetables that require a lot of chewing have an excellent by-effect because of their texture and nature. They clean tooth surfaces while you chew. The extra chewing also produces lots of saliva which mixes with the naturally occurring water released by vegetables. These natural toothbrushes, scrub and scour away small particles of food and bacteria. Vegetables also contain some of the most important vitamins and minerals needed for strong teeth and health gums.
Carrot and celery sticks are the perfect snack. Uncooked celery mimics dental floss. Its crunchy and fibrous texture is a super effective tooth cleaner. And carrots are packed with vitamin C, calcium and keratins, all of which have numerous dental benefits including natural stain removers.
Powerhouse vegies, or leafy greens like Spinach, Lettuce, and Kale are rich in folic acid, calcium and other key vitamins and minerals that your teeth and gums need to be healthy. Also like more solid vegetables, fresh greens help to clean your teeth.
