Healthy Eating for a Healthy Mouth

You brush your teeth twice a day for two minutes. You floss too. Along with your at-home oral care routine, you also visit the dentist every six months for a professional-level cleaning and preventative services. But is that it when it comes to maintaining a healthy mouth?

Even though at-home and in-office dental care are essential to keep your teeth and gums healthy, you also need to pay attention to what you eat. While some foods (such as cavity-inducing candy) can harm your teeth, others are beneficial.
What foods have dental health benefits? Take a look at some of the top foods that work to boost the strength, function, and overall health of your teeth and gums.

Milk, cheese, and yogurt are all foods that you know well. They’re kitchen staples that are filled with calcium, which helps build strong bones. But that’s not where calcium’s benefits stop. Calcium also helps to build strong, healthy teeth.
Calcium, along with the phosphates, in dairy products re-mineralize your teeth. This helps to keep the outer layer of your teeth hard, giving it the ability to resist chips, cracks and other damage. To provide protective benefits, you should eat at least 1,000 to 2,000 mg of calcium per day.

While dairy foods and beverages provide plenty of calcium, they aren’t the only sources of this valuable mineral. You can add to your calcium intake by choosing a few non-dairy foods too.
Whether you don’t like dairy, you’re allergic to it, you have a sensitive digestive system, or you prefer plenty of variety in your diet, you have several different selections to pick from that also provide plenty of calcium.
Some foods and drinks have added calcium. Even those these foods naturally contain calcium, manufacturers boost the amount so that you can get in the daily recommendations without having to eat or drink all day long. Orange juice and tofu are two options that are often fortified with additional calcium. Read the label and nutrition facts carefully to find out how much of the mineral these items have.
Beans, almonds, canned fish, and leafy greens (such as spinach, collard greens, and kale) are all calcium-rich options as well.

Foods and beverages with calcium often also include phosphorus. Like calcium, phosphorus also plays a role in developing and maintaining strong teeth. Those calcium-rich dairy foods and drinks, such as milk, cheese, and yogurt, are also good picks for phosphorus intake. Other phosphorus-rich foods include eggs, fish, and lean meats.

Don’t forget about your gums. They’re part of a healthy mouth too. When creating a diet that boosts your dental health, including vitamin C-containing foods is a must-do. Foods with this vitamin are important additions to your diet because these foods contribute to gum health.
Sources of vitamin C include citrus fruits (such as oranges and grapefruits), broccoli, spinach, and tomatoes.

Fiber won’t build or strengthen your teeth in the way that calcium does, but it still has plenty of healthy mouth benefits. High-fiber foods help you to salivate. This naturally washes away the gunk and leftover food particles in your mouth. While salivation certainly isn’t a substitute for brushing, it does help to reduce the risk of plaque and cavity development.
Foods that are high in fiber include some fruits such as raspberries, pears, and apples along with vegetables such as green peas, broccoli, turnip greens, and brussels sprouts. Whole-grain breads, brown rice, barley, lentils, and black beans are also all excellent sources of fiber.
Do you need a new dentist to make sure that your teeth are healthy and strong? Do you need a new dentist to make sure that your teeth are healthy and strong? Contact Travis Wilson, D.M.D. for more help taking care of your teeth.