How to Eat Well for Your Oral Health

When it comes to what you eat and drink, you may be well aware of choices that contribute to weight gain or cardiovascular disease. But did you know that there are specific foods and nutrients that nourish your smile too? In fact, The American Dental Association suggests that a poor diet impacts your mouth before it affects anything else in your body. To help you understand how to fill your plate for a healthy smile, take a moment to read the following do’s and don’ts of eating for your dental health:

Eat This for a Healthy Smile

Research proves that the following dietary choices can improve oral health:

• Calcium-rich foods – Say “cheese”! Foods that are rich in calcium, such as cheese, yogurt and milk, are powerful agents for building enamel and bone. Cheese has especially gained attention in recent news, as it contains important micro-organisms that fight off oral bacteria and it can also serve as a buffer or layer of protection against more acidic foods that you eat.
• Water – There is no argument that drinking several glasses of water a day is beneficial to your body’s health, and this includes your smile health. Water has a neutral pH and it can rinse away bacteria and food debris from your teeth and gums, as well as increase saliva production. The more saliva you have, the less chance for decay and disease.
• Protein – Are you getting enough lean protein? The support system of your teeth depend on it. Choose foods like fish, poultry and almonds that are protein rich and able to keep the framework of your oral tissues nice and strong.
• Fiber – While you may know fiber for its digestive boost, it can also help keep your teeth cleaner and whiter. Eating fibrous fruits and vegetables can act as a scrubbing mechanism against your teeth and gums.

Avoid This to Protect Your Smile

With rules on which foods are good for your teeth also comes choices that are bad for your teeth. You can generally narrow it down to two items: processed sugar and starch. This means limited the amount of soda, sports drinks, white bread, candy and sugary cereals. The combination of sugar, starch and acid can wreak havoc on your smile health.

Want to learn more about how you can eat for your smile health? Give us a call or schedule your six-month dental checkup at Mitzi Morris, DMD.