About 1/4 of all Americans have untreated cavities, while over 90% have some form of tooth decay.
While regular visits to the dentists for cleanings and adopting good daily brushing and flossing habits help to keep decay at bay, many don’t realize how eating the right foods can ensure you have healthy teeth.
So, what should you add to your menu to improve your overall oral health?
This post is here to help you find out.
Read on to learn how making a few simple dietary swaps can give you strong teeth, healthy gums, and prevent decay.
1. Garlic
Though the first entry on our list of foods for healthy teeth might come as a bit of a shock, the truth is that garlic offers tons of oral health benefits.
It helps to improve the balance of good and bad bacteria in the mouth, which can prevent cavities and even guard against more severe issues, like periodontal disease.
This is especially thanks to the allicin contained in garlic.
We understand that the idea of snacking on raw garlic isn’t exactly a pleasant one. So, to get your daily dose, you can take a garlic supplement, or use it in more of your cooking.
2. Celery Sticks
We all love the idea of getting a massage — but did you know that snacking on celery can actually massage your gums while cleaning your teeth at the same time?
In a sense, it’s able to perform actions that are somewhat similar to a toothbrush (though we’re in no way advocating swapping out celery sticks for your toothbrush, of course.)
It can get rid of food particles lodged between the teeth, because it’s able to stimulate saliva production in the mouth.
It’s also loaded with both antioxidants and Vitamin A, two essential nutrients for better teeth health.
3. Salmon
This dinnertime staple isn’t just delicious — it’s also packed with vitamins for teeth.
Salmon is especially high Vitamin D, which benefits your oral health in particular because it makes it much easier for your body to absorb calcium. Since salmon also contains high amounts of calcium, it essentially packs a one-two punch for healthy teeth.
4. Yogurt
Your Greek yogurt obsession certainly benefits your overall health, but eating yogurt, drinking kefir, or snacking on other similar foods is also a great way to get healthy teeth and gums.
Why?
Because yogurt contains lots of calcium, which strengthen your teeth. The probiotics found in yogurt also help to ward off gum disease, cavities, and halitosis (bad breath.)
5. Apples
Because apples have high amounts of acidity, they eliminate the bacteria in your mouth that causes bad breath.
While some may fear that the acidity in apples weakens enamel, in fact, the sugar content of apples helps to neutralize those potentially harmful acids, while making it easy for your body to absorb the good ones.
The fiber content of apples also works to keep both teeth and gums clean and free from excessive bacteria buildup. Because apples are crisp, snacking on them increases the level of saliva production in the mouth, which helps to strengthen your teeth and keep cavities at bay.
6. Strawberries
Have your teeth been looking a bit on the yellow side lately?
Are you concerned about stains and discoloration in the teeth?
If so, then you might be surprised to learn that strawberries are the solution you’ve been looking for. We understand that, especially given their bright red color, this can seem counterintuitive at first.
But strawberries are packed with what’s known as malic acid, which guards against stains and can even brighten your teeth naturally. While it certainly won’t give you the same results as a professional whitening treatment or a dental cleaning, eating strawberries can offer you a bit of preventative maintenance.
One thing to be on the lookout for, however, is the strawberry seeds.
They can easily get lodged between teeth, so it’s important to floss after snacking on this sweet treat.
7. Shiitake Mushrooms
Whether you’re tossing them in an omelet or making an Asian-inspired dish, adding shiitake mushrooms to your meal plan is a great way to improve your oral health.
They’re incredibly effective at fighting plaque thanks to their high lentinan content. Lentatin is actually a type of natural sugar, meaning that it can prevent plaque from sticking to your teeth without putting you at a higher risk of developing cavities.
Looking for a few recipe ideas that will help you to include more shiitake mushrooms in your diet?
If so, then you should check out these delicious options. It’s a great excuse to spend more time developing your culinary skills.
Eat Your Way to Healthy Teeth
Whether you can’t get enough of celery sticks or if you want to add more strawberries to your diet, we hope that this post has helped to educate you about the foods that can help you to have healthy teeth.
Of course, the most important things you can do to improve your oral health are to regularly see a dentist, brush and floss at least twice a day, and see a dental professional if you suspect there’s a problem.
Has it been a while since you’ve had a cleaning?
If so, then we want to help you rectify that.
Learn more about the dental services we have to offer, and reach out to us today to book your appointment. We can’t wait to help brighten your smile and boost your confidence as a result.
