The Top Foods for Healthy Teeth and Gums

Just as is the case with the rest of your body, the foods you eat have a great effect on your dental health. For example, we know that sweets can lead to cavities, etc. but healthy food can help maintain good tooth and gum health.

Healthy foods that contain antioxidants and other nutrients help by strengthening the body’s defenses against bacteria and inflammation.

This aids the teeth and gums as well. So in addition to brushing, flossing and taking regular trips to a dentist using one of our affordable dental plans,

following the recommendations on this list may help you to have healthier teeth and gums.

• Fiber-Rich Fruits and Vegetables: High fiber foods such as apples, carrots, and celery help sustain good dental health in two ways.
• The first way is that the high water content contained in these foods helps clean and loosen plaque from the teeth.
• The second way they help is that they contain calcium and phosphates that help wash away bacteria.

• Cheese and other dairy products: Not only are dairy products high in calcium, which is known to be good for bone and tooth health, they also contain the protein casein.
• Casein has been shown to decrease dental erosion in several studies.
• Leafy Greens: Extra saliva is produced by your mouth when you eat leafy greens.
• Saliva is the mouth’s natural acid neutralizer. Examples of leafy greens include spinach, kale and lettuce.
• Water: Good old h2o helps the body in countless ways not the least of which is that it washes away tooth-damaging bacteria and sugars left behind after eating.
• Foods containing probiotics: There is some preliminary evidence which suggests that foods like yogurt, kombucha, sauerkraut, and miso may help to decrease harmful bacteria around your teeth and gums.
• Seafood: Fish, especially fatty ones such as wild salmon and tuna, is rich in vitamin D.
• Vitamin D helps teeth by aiding them in the absorption of calcium and phosphate.
• Garlic: Garlic contains allicin which is a strong antimicrobial. It helps fight against tooth decay and periodontal disease.
• Sugarless Gum: Chewing sugarless gum after a meal – especially when a toothbrush and paste are not available – helps force the mouth to produce more sugar neutralizing saliva. Gum containing sugar is a no-no.

Finally, a well thought out dental health program includes trips to the dentists, flossing and brushing and consuming the above foods.

You can begin your program by picking one of our Affordable dental plans and by choosing a provider from within our database of professionals.