Everyone likes to talk about how there are a multitude of foods that are bad for your teeth. Foods that are high in sugar are widely known to contribute to tooth decay and cavities if consumed in large amounts. However, not many people know the foods that actually improve your oral health. According to the American Dental Association, many foods that we consume on a daily basis make our teeth stronger without us knowing it. Here are a few examples:
- Leafy Greens:
- Every day it seems like people are benefitting more and more from putting leafy greens in their diet. There’s a reason kale is called a super-food. But besides just kale, greens such as spinach and lettuces are highly rich in vitamin B. They also have a lot of folic acid, which is known to strengthen teeth and increase blood flow to the gums as well.
- Almonds
- Almonds are great for your teeth because they are high in calcium and low in sugar; two dietary trends that are bound to make your next trip to the dentist much more pleasant. Calcium strengthens bones, as sugar causes numerous issues to oral health. You can have almonds by themselves as a snack, or add a handful to your next salad and enjoy!
- Apples
- We’ve all heard the old saying that, “an apple a day keeps the doctor away.” But did you know that apples are beneficial to your teeth too? By biting into the fibrous skin texture of apples, your salivary glands and gums become more stimulated which can rinse away bacteria and other food particles already residing in your mouth. Now, don’t go replace brushing your teeth with apple eating, but adding an apple (or two) to your diet a day can cause great benefits before you realize it.
- Cheese
- If you are a cheese lover, then good news! Eating cheese has very similar benefits to your oral health as the ones mentioned above. Cheese is high in protein and calcium, which is great for strengthening and growing bones AND chewing cheese also increases salivation and gum stimulation. By eating cheese, you can strengthen and clean your mouth all at the same time.
