admin
Aug 25, 2020
A chocolate dessert after dinner or a pudding or ice-cream in the middle of the day might be your go-to food. However, it is not quite what your teeth deserve after crushing and grinding foods and snacks all day.
The starchy and sugary products play an instrumental role in damaging your teeth and gums. Thus if you wish to stay away from cavities and plaque, you must follow a healthy diet besides brushing and flossing regularly.
What you eat can change the way you smile. So here is a list of the best and worst foods for your teeth prepared with the help of renowned dentists in Hope Island.
It will help you to gain optimal oral health and maintain a healthy lifestyle. So the next time you go grocery shopping, make sure you put the right items in your cart using this list.
Best Foods For Your Teeth
Most of us tend to ignore these foods and beverages for the sake of our taste buds. However, these are essential for healthy teeth and gums.
1. Water - The most vital part of our daily intake, water is beneficial for maintaining healthy teeth. It helps in washing away the deposits of sugar and acid left on the teeth.
Being fluoride-rich, it safeguards our mouth from tooth decay. Thus you must drink lots of water throughout the day and especially after eating sticky foods. It also improves the production of saliva, which aids in keeping cavities at bay.
2. Fruits and Vegetable Filled With Fibre - Fibre-rich foods help in increasing the production of saliva, which is reduced after the consumption of sugar-coated foods.
Saliva acts as a natural defence system against the acids which erode our tooth enamel. It consists of minerals, such as calcium and phosphate that maintain the balance of essential minerals in the mouth.
3. Dairy Products - Our teeth need calcium to become stronger and the most prolific sources of calcium are milk, cheese and plain yoghurt. Dairy products help in strengthening our bones and tooth enamel.
Cheese also contains caseins which are responsible for the restoration of the tooth enamel. The phosphate present in cheese is advantageous in maintaining pH balance in the mouth.
4. Leafy Greens - The leafy vegetables like spinach, celery and kale are vital for maintaining the overall health of the body as well as our teeth. Spinach is filled with calcium which strengthens tooth enamel.
Celery is a chewy vegetable which should be consumed after eating something sticky to avoid damage to teeth from the leftover sugar. On the other hand, kale is rich in folic acid, which improves oral health considerably.
5. Fish and Eggs - While fish is rich in omega-3 fatty acids that eliminate the chances of gum diseases, eggs contain vitamin D, which is needed for the absorption of calcium.
Worst Foods For Your Teeth
Prevention is better than cure. Thus most dentists recommend brushing twice a day and staying away from the foods mentioned below.
1. Sour and Sugar Coated Candies - These are the worst kind of treats as they are sticky and filled with acids which are harmful to the teeth enamel. They can get stuck to the teeth and lead to decay.
Thus if you are craving something sweet, then it is better to have chocolates, which can be washed off with water and do not stay in the mouth for long. Avoid caramels, chewy and hard candies which cling to the teeth and cause cavities. Reducing the intake of sugary foods is the best way to defend your child from tooth decay.
2. Carbonated Beverages - The favourite soda that you love to gulp down can have a negative impact on your teeth as the acids present in it work on eroding the protective tooth enamel.
They also reduce the amount of saliva in the mouth and can cause staining. All these drinks are loaded with sugar and are extremely unhealthy for kids as well as adults.
3. Citric Foods - Although citric fruits like lemons and gooseberry are rich sources of vitamin C, they can make the teeth prone to decay. They have a high content of acids which can affect the tooth enamel even when they are mixed with water. Thus the citric drinks should not be consumed in large volumes and should be followed by rinsing.
4. Starchy Foods - Food items like potato chips and bread are filled with starch, which is converted into sugar in the mouth. These usually get stuck between the gaps in teeth and lead to the growth of bacteria which cause plaque.
The trapped food particles in the crevices can also lead to cavities. Thus flossing after eating chips is the best way to keep your teeth healthy. You can also switch to whole wheat bread which is less starchy.
5. Ice - While water is highly valuable in maintaining dental health, chewing ice can prove to be equally damaging. Trying to crush a hard substance like ice can cause chipped tooth or damage to veneers and crowns. Thus you must use crushed ice in your drinks and avoid chewing them.
Conclusion
It is easy to keep your teeth and gums healthy by making effective food choices. Plus, you must follow the usual brushing and flossing routine and visit your dentist in Hope Island after every six months to eliminate the chances of cavities and gum diseases.
