Our teeth are important parts of our body. They are the primary reason why we enjoy eating, chewing, and biting foods. Moreover, they play a huge part in our appearance, our overall look will not be complete if we have a missing tooth. That is why we need to know which good food for our teeth should we eat. Apparently, some foods can stain your teeth while some can provide nutrition to maintain healthy teeth.

Food And Teeth Relationship

Any food we eat has a significant impact on our bodies. The food that we eat can either improve our health or cause medical conditions. The same thing goes with our teeth, they are the first ones to have contact with the food that we consume. The relationship between our teeth and the foods we eat is crucial.

It’s important to know which food are good and which are bad for the teeth. Generally, starchy foods attract germs and bacteria, the main reasons why tooth decay and gum diseases occur. Bacteria is the reason why plaque begins to grow. It is a sticky component that covers the teeth’ enamel. When you eat foods with sugar or starch, it comes in contact with the plaque which then leads to acid formation.

The acid will then attack the surface of the teeth and cause the enamel to break down. If this happens on a regular basis, tooth decay might follow.

Good Food For Strong Teeth

To help you maintain your healthy teeth, here are the kinds of food that contribute to strong teeth:

• Fruits and vegetables rich in fiber. Food with fiber is good for the teeth as it helps in cleaning the teeth and gums. Fiber also promotes good saliva production, saliva is our body’s natural protection against bacteria. It helps in maintaining the health of teeth by restoring the minerals that are lost due to the presence of bacteria.
• Dairy products. Cheese, yogurt, milk, and other dairy products are natural saliva producers. The calcium from these foods also rebuilds the minerals that are impacted by the foods that you eat. dairy products also contribute to the rehabilitation of enamel.
• Teas. Green and black teas contain polyphenols that fight off bacteria. It even has the ability to block bacteria and stop them from growing. Some types of teas can also be a good source of fluoride.
• Chewing gum. If you are on the go and often spend your time outdoor, sugarless chewing gum can be a temporary replacement for a toothbrush as it removes the food particles in the mouth.
• Any food that contains fluoride. Fluoride helps teeth in so many ways. It protects teeth from germs and bacteria and prevents tooth decay as well.

Listed are the best foods for your teeth:

1. apples and pears
2. peanuts
3. fish and meat
4. raisins
5. berries
6. broccoli
7. kiwis
8. onions and garlic
9. potatoes
10. whole grains
11. mushrooms

Foods To Stay Away From

Unfortunately, some foods could also affect your strong teeth and cause them to become weak. Avoid this from happening by staying away from these foods:

• Candies and sweets. Technically, not all sweets are bad for your teeth, just those candies that contain refined sugar. Refined sugar sticks on the teeth and are harder to remove. If you are a natural lover of sweets, opt for sweets like chocolate, studies show that chocolates are easier to remove from the teeth compared to foods like candies and caramel-coated desserts.
• Starchy foods. Starch can get easily stuck in between teeth which makes it hard for them to be removed. According to this dental team in Gordon, stuck food particles can lead to plaque if left uncleaned.
• Sodas. This kind of drink is full of sugar and is the most common reason why kids and teens have abnormal sugar levels. Sodas contain citric acids that deliberately break the tooth enamel.
• Foods that cause dry mouth. It’s essential for our mouth to stay moist to prevent the formation of bacteria. In order to avoid this, stay away from foods that affect the production of saliva and cause the mouth to dry.

Specifically, these are the foods that destroy the teeth:

1. cakes
2. pies
3. cookies
4. pickles
5. wine
6. citrus fruits
7. crackers
8. pasta sauce
9. dried fruits
10. apple cider vinegar

Keeping Your Teeth Strong And Healthy

Understandably, the health of our teeth does not fully rely on the foods that we eat. Knowing the right practices in maintaining strong teeth is an important factor as well. Here are some of the few things to remember in taking care of teeth:

• Brush your teeth daily but in a gentle manner. We all know that brushing the teeth daily is the most common oral practice. While this may be true, the technique that you use on toothbrushing also needs to be considered. Brushing harshly can damage the enamel and gums. Dentists suggest that brushing should be in small circular motions in a gentle manner.
• Use fluoride. Fluoride helps in preventing cavities. It is an ingredient that is often present in toothpaste and mouthwash. However, not all oral care products contain fluoride so be sure to check out the components of the product.
• Floss daily. Dental floss is designed to clean the areas in the mouth that are not reachable by a toothbrush. Aside from this, it also helps in preventing bad breath that is caused by stuck debris in between teeth.
• Regular dental visits. Visiting your dentist regularly is a preventative measure to keep you safe from dental problems that might arise due to negligence. Dental practitioners recommend a twice a year visit to the dentist or every 6 months.
• Do not use tobacco and cigarettes. Smoking is one of the top causes of bad oral health nowadays. The Toothsome expert team warns that smoking affects your dental health as the nicotine that it contains can lead gum disease and tooth loss.
• Stay hydrated. Replace soda and colored drinks with water instead. Not only that it will keep you physically healthy, but it will also help in cleaning out the particles in your mouth.
• Use a mouthwash. Mouthwash helps in combatting bacteria. Moreover, it keeps your breath fresh all day.