Food For Your Teeth
When we eat we often think of satiating hunger, our stomach. But have we ever considered eating for the part of our body we use to eat? Our mouth and teeth are also organs that need to be nourished, taken care of, and though they do not feel any hunger, satiated.
The foods that we need for oral and dental health are also the same food we need for overall health. With that, a balanced diet is always the best option. A big helping of fruits and vegetables as well as plant based proteins and milk, together with good oral hygiene will keep your grills in tiptop shape.
If you need an idea where to start, here are a few things you can start stocking up on to thank your mouth and teeth for their heard work all these years:
Tea While tea is known to stain teeth, green and black tea contains a compound called polyphenols that slow the growth of bacteria associated with cavities and gum disease. It undermines the ability of some bacteria to clump together with other bacteria. This process also lessens bad breath or halitosis as bacteria are not able to produce smelly compounds.
Cheese In a 2013 study published in the journal, General Dentistry, it has been reported that 12-15 year olds who ate cheddar cheese had lower levels of acid in their mouth than those who consumed sugar-free yogurt or drank a glass of milk. This was done by having the teens rinse their mouths and then measuring the pH levels 10,20, and 30 minutes after rinsing. The milk and yoghurt people showed no change in their pH levels while those who ate cheese had a rapid drop when their levels were taken.
Raisins Raisins are naturally sweet and do not contain table sugar or sucrose which helps bacteria stick to the tooth surface which allows them to produce plaque. Raisins also contain phytochemicals which can kill cavity-causing bacteria and gum-disease.
Crunchy Food If there is any type of crunchy food that you should continue to nosh on, it should be apples, carrots, and cucumbers. Chewing disturbs dental plaque and serves as a cleansing mechanism.
Sugarless Gum Chewing sugarless gum after eating encourages saliva production thus, clearing away bacteria. Remember to always stick to sugarless because sucrose in most chewing gums will only make the bacteria in your mouth increase.
As we all know, and is often told to us by our dentists in Whitchurch and Andover, adequate nutrition is what we need to prevent disease prevention including our mouth. The quality and nutritional value of the food we eat also affects the oral health, even the likelihood of tooth decay.