It is well known that what you eat can have a big effect on dental health. For example, when kids eat too much candy, they are prone to getting cavities.
The technical explanation for this phenomenon is that when sugars are present in the mouth, when digesting, a group of harmful bacteria interacts with them to produce an acid. This acid wears away tooth enamel, and over time, after constant wearing from these acids, a cavity is formed. A cavity is essentially a hole where the tooth has decayed to an advanced stage.
A professional like Dr. Chen from the Advanced Dental Group Of Hoboken might tell you that cutting down on eating sweets, sugary foods, and drinks is a start to good dental health. In addition to this, however, he would also tell you that there are proactive things you can do.
Foods that Impact the Teeth
We have already briefly discussed how sugary foods can affect the teeth, and over time cause cavities. Sugar-rich foods include obvious ones like candy and chocolate, but also certain types of breakfast cereal, canned fruits, sugar-rich sauces, and sodas with high sugar content. It is important, in general, when choosing foods, to be aware of the sugar content found in the Nutritional Value section of the packaging.
Another type of food which can negatively impact dental health are sticky, starchy foods. These foods include such things as sticky rice, potatoes, bread, honey, and raisins. Sticky and starchy foods may stick to the surfaces of your teeth, and cause damage to the enamel over time. When eating these often healthy foods, it is important to practice good dental hygiene, and brush and floss teeth regularly to counteract any damage they might do.
Finally, there are acidic foods, such as lemons, limes, oranges, and coffee. While many of these foods are very healthy for the body, consuming them on their own can lead to tooth decay, since the high acid-content can wear away tooth enamel. It is generally recommended to consume these types of foods as part of a larger meal, so they don't directly affect your tooth enamel.
On the other hand, there are many foods which have a healthy impact on your teeth. By choosing foods with lots of vitamins and minerals in them, you will be providing your teeth with the proper materials to keep strong and healthy.
In addition, picking the right foods can help produce more saliva to counteract tooth-harming digestive acids, and create healthy digestive bacteria to more effectively digest the foods you eat. All these things add up to some very strong, healthy teeth! Here's a list of seven healthy Fruits and Vegetables you can try incorporating into your diet:
List of Seven Fruits and Vegetables
Broccoli - This superfood is loaded with vitamins C and K, which are both vitamins that help protect and strengthen the teeth. The dentin, just beneath the enamel of the teeth, relies on vitamin C to keep strong and healthy. Also, Broccoli naturally helps to clean your teeth while you eat it!
Carrots - Much like broccoli, carrots, because of their tough texture, are great natural teeth cleaners. They basically work like floss while you eat! although they definitely are not a replacement. In addition, they are rich in vitamins and minerals like Vitamin C, calcium, and keratin, all of which help to strengthen the teeth internally, externally against scratching, and keep the body healthy.
Leafy Greens - Like most fruits and vegetables, leafy greens like spinach, bok choy and kale are packed with vitamins and minerals (this should look familiar by now). In addition, they are rich in folic acid and calcium, which are essential to gum and teeth health!
Berries - Healthy berries, especially strawberries, are natural antioxidants, and have many restorative properties for tissues in the body.
Apples - Despite being quite sweet, apples are effective at increasing saliva production, which keeps the mouth free of harmful acids produced while digesting. Like other fibrous vegetables, the tough flesh of the apple works as a natural tooth cleaner and gum strengthener.
Garlic - Garlic has powerful anti-bacterial properties, since they are rich in allicin, which can help rid the mouth of unwanted bacteria left by foods and digestion.
Onions - Onions, similar to garlic, when eaten raw have antibacterial properties. Just make sure you don't eat raw garlic and onions before going on a date!
Final Takeaway
One of the most important things that you can do to maintain healthy teeth and prevent cavities, is eat healthy foods that not only do not damage teeth, but actually can help to actively repair the enamel and strengthen the teeth, preventing future cavities, like the foods listed in this article.
