10 Foods That Improve Your Dental Health

We’re dentists, and we know you get tired of hearing us lecture about all the things you shouldn’t eat if you want to maintain your oral health. We get tired of it, too, but it’s our job, and as long as there are people who eat those things anyway, we’ll keep talking about why they shouldn’t.

But today, we thought we’d take a positive spin and focus instead on the foods we want you to eat. So without further ado, here are 10 foods and drinks that improve your dental health:

Dairy products help fortify your teeth

Milk and yogurt are rich in calcium, which helps fortify your teeth and bones while you refuel. They’re also low in acidity and sugar, so they reduce the risk of tooth erosion and tooth decay.

Cheese helps rebuild tooth enamel

Yes, cheese has the benefits of other dairy products, but it also balances the pH in your mouth for 30 minutes after eating. This helps by producing more saliva, rebuilding tooth enamel, and killing the bacteria that cause cavities and gum disease.

Fruit helps keep down plaque on teeth and gums

When eaten whole, the firm, crunchy fruits like apples massage your gums and keep down plaque. They also have high water content, which dilutes the effects of the sugars they contain. The high vitamin C content in the more acidic fruits like oranges, grapefruits, and lemons helps protect you from gum disease, but these should be eaten as part of a larger meal in order to minimize their acids.

Vegetables helps form tooth enamel

Tooth enamel forms from vitamin A, so eating vegetables high in vitamin A, such as broccoli, carrots, sweet potato, and pumpkin, helps build a great foundation for your teeth. Eating these vegetables raw gives you the highest amount of vitamin A and does the work of cleaning your teeth and massaging your gums.

Proteins help reduce tooth decay

Beef, eggs, chicken, and turkey contain the phosphorous that, when combined with vitamin D and calcium, forms your bones and teeth. That means these foods help reduce decay and keep your teeth healthy.

Onions kill harmful bacteria in your mouth

Onions are powerful bacteria fighters. They contain sulfur compounds that kill the harmful bacteria in your mouth. For best results, eat them raw.

Celery helps clean your teeth

Don’t have toothbrush handy? Celery is great to eat after meals because it massages your gums, cleans your teeth, and stimulates the production of more saliva, which neutralizes cavity-causing bacteria.   

Sesame seeds help dissolve plaque

These little buggers don’t just taste delicious on your bagel and on top of your stir-fry. They’re also rich in calcium, and they dissolve plaque and help build tooth enamel.

Green tea helps prevent plaque from accumulating

The antioxidants in green tea help prevent plaque from accumulating, which reduces your risk of cavities and bad breath. Some green teas also contain fluoride, a mineral that helps prevent tooth decay.

Water helps clean your mouth

Water hydrates your body, which is great for your overall health, but it also cleans your mouth, dilutes acids, hydrates your gums, and helps wash away those food particles from your lunch. So it’s great for your teeth, too.

Come to Town Center Dentistry in Rancho Bernardo

Eating any or all of the above foods is not a substitute for brushing and flossing daily or visiting us at Town Center Dentistry twice annually. Your regular visits are an important part of your dental care. They give us a chance to clean your teeth and keep an eye on your oral health. Sure, they also give us the opportunity to lecture every now and again, but we only do it because we care. Remember, we’re dentists. It’s our job.