You may have heard people rave about how what you eat shows both on the outside and the inside, there is truth to this, and everything from the top of your head to the bottom of your feet are affected as a result of your daily diet. A bad diet, hence, can lead to both physical and health issues, so why take the risk?
This doesn’t not only affect the outside but also the inside of your body, and teeth are one of the main culprits as they are the first point of contact between the food you eat and your body.
Needless to say, it is important to choose the right foods and drinks for your lifestyle to remain healthy and maintain your happiness. Some of the worse foods you can eat, that will affect not only your teeth but other things are those high in starch and sugar. If you eliminate only these two from your diet, the difference it makes after a few months will be surprising. Everything from gum disease to tooth decay can be avoided by eliminating these from your plate.
Even if you practice good oral hygiene and things such as brushing twice a day and using floss in between. What you eat will still matter.
So, the question begs, what can you eat for healthy teeth? We have included a few suggestions below for you. Let’s start with the best foods
Best Foods for Maintaining Healthy Teeth
Dairy Products
- Milk
- Plain yoghurt
- Cheese
- Kefir
These are just some of the items you can include in your daily diet. These contain phosphates and calcium which are good for teeth and bones. They aid in replenishing vital minerals that we lose throughout the day due to various activities. They also help to maintain a healthy bit of saliva in the mouth, which aids in fighting bad bacteria and keeping them at bay and your teeth clean.
They help to rebuild the enamel of your teeth, thus keeping them stronger for longer, and they will also help fight gum disease.
Fibre-Rich Vegetables and Fruits
Everything from vegetables to fruits, that are rich in fibre can help towards this cause. A few examples include:
- Avocado
- Pears
- Strawberries
- Raspberries
- Brussel Sprouts
- Apples
- Carrots
- Broccoli
- Beetroot
And more can be found on this online source.
When you eat starchy and sugary foods after you’ve eaten your meal, they start to reduce the saliva in your mouth which then increases enzymes and acids, and these attack your teeth.
Tea
Both black and green teas are amongst the healthiest and most helpful types of teas on the market. They can minimize bacteria and, in some cases, even kill it off, in your mouth. The plaque that is caused by bad bacteria can sometimes be difficult to keep away and when acid attacks the teeth sometimes it is too late.
When you drink black and green tea the polyphenols in the beverage help to fight this plaque. They also provide a source of fluoride for you and have many other health benefits such as maintaining weight, helping with digestion, high in antioxidants and they taste good too.
Tea can also stain your teeth, and Green Tea can leave a dull grey stain, and over time can cause discoloration. In the event of to much tea drinking you can always book in with a dentist to get your teeth whitened. Places like Turkey are very cost-effective for restoring the colour of your teeth, so check out some local clinics for teeth whitening prices.
Flouride Foods
Drinking water is one of the best ways to add fluoride to our bodies. You can make fluoridated water and drink it every day and different types of juices can help with this, as well as soups and seafood, or cereals like granola and you’re everyday corn cereals. But make sure they are not too sugary.
Chewing Gum
That’s right – even gum can help your teeth, but, it needs to be sugar-free and you should not chew it for long periods. It helps to increase saliva in your mouth.
Worse Foods for Maintaining Healthy Teeth
So, what should you avoid? The list below will guide you.
- Anything that dries your mouth – certain types of medication and alcohol like red wine and beer. If you have to drink it once in a while it is fine but follow it up with a glass of water in-between.
- Starch – soft bread and potato products like chips and crisps.
- Candy – anything that has a high sugar content like candy and sweets should be avoided.
- Soft drinks – carbonated soft drinks are the worse for your teeth and should be avoided at all costs. they are also bad for your overall health.
Even though some foods may say they are sugar-free or have less starch, it is always best to stick to natural foods and drinks such as water and plain fruit juices which can be made at home or pressed at the grocery stores.