What Foods are Good for your Oral Health?

To keep your teeth and gums healthy and avoid repeated visits to an emergency dental clinic, it’s crucial that you take good care of your mouth. When you talk about taking care of your mouth, you need to keep a check on what you eat and drink. There isn’t any doubt that our eating habits do affect our oral health. Consuming foods rich in various minerals and vitamins will keep dental problems at bay. Here are some nutrient-rich foods that you must include in your daily diet for a healthy mouth.

Leafy Greens

Green leafy vegetables are rich in calcium, folic acid, vitamin C and K, phosphorous, and numerous other vitamins and minerals that are essential for healthy teeth and gums. Consuming green leafy vegetables daily helps in strengthening your teeth by repairing the connective tissues of the gums that hold your teeth in place.

Best leafy greens: kale, collards, spinach, mint, etc.

Crunchy Fruits and Vegetables

Hard, crunchy fruits and vegetables with high water content are great for your oral health. Chewing these foods promotes salivation (production and flow of saliva). Saliva is beneficial for oral health in two ways – it neutralizes harmful acids in the mouth and washes away bad bacteria to prevent most oral problems such as decays and cavities.

Best crunchy foods: apples, carrots, celery, radishes, cucumbers, etc.

Dairy Products

Dairy products are rich in calcium and phosphorous. These two minerals aid in remineralization and strengthening teeth and jaw bones. These foods not only help in strengthening your tooth enamel but also help in neutralizing acids present in your mouth and killing harmful bacteria.

Best dairy products: unsweetened milk, cheeses, yogurt, cottage cheese, etc.

You can even consume non-dairy foods such as eggs, broccoli, scallops, sardines, cod, shrimp, tuna, and other calcium and phosphorus-rich foods to keep your teeth and gums healthy.

Polyphenol Teas

Some teas contain compounds called polyphenols and catechins, which slow the growth of bacteria in the mouth and even kill bacteria associated with plaque, cavities, and periodontal (gum) diseases. Moreover, this compound helps in keeping bad breath at bay.

Best polyphenol teas: unsweetened black tea and green tea.

Vitamin C-rich Foods

Vitamin C-rich foods strengthen blood vessels and reduce inflammation, which helps your gums stay healthier and prevents teeth loosening. Not only this, vitamin C is required for the production of collagen, a key protein that helps you fight periodontal disease.

Best sources of vitamin C: oranges, lime, lemons, tomatoes, kiwis, strawberries, bell peppers, etc.

Vitamin A-rich Foods

Vitamin A helps keep mucous membranes healthy. It prevents dry mouth and helps your mouth heal quickly. This vitamin is also essential for tooth enamel formation and strengthening.

Best sources of vitamin A: Orange-colored foods such as oranges, apricots, cantaloupe, pumpkin, carrots. Green vegetables like spinach and kale. Poultry and meats such as salmon, tuna, egg yolks, liver, etc.

Apart from consuming a good diet, you must brush your mouth at least twice daily with a fluoridated toothpaste, floss daily, avoid biting hard objects like pens and nails and visit your emergency dental clinic regularly. If you haven’t seen your dentist in a while, book your appointment now!