You surely know about foods that make your stomach happy, but what about foods that make your TEETH happy?! Here are a few edible items that help your teeth in one way or another. At the Center for Beautiful Smiles, Dr. Pham and his team can answer all your oral health questions. Don’t hesitate to give us a call at your Chula Vista and Bonita Family Dentist.
Milk: promotes tooth remineralization and inhibits growth of plaque. A recent study shows that drinking a glass of milk after a bowl of sugary cereal lowers the amount of acidity caused by the sugar and decreases your chances of getting cavities.
Strawberries: contain malic acid and are a natural teeth whitener. Crush a strawberry with some baking soda, apply it to your teeth for 5 minutes, brush off, then rinse, and you should find yourself with a whiter smile.
High-fiber foods: require a lot of chewing which spurs saliva production. Saliva is your body’s natural way of washing away cavity-producing acids produced by bacteria in your mouth. The high-fiber foods also create a scrubbing motion on the surface of the tooth.
Sugarless gum: is another “food” that revs up saliva production, which in turn washes away the acids caused by bacteria in your mouth. Gums sweetened with xylitol are helpful, as xylitol is an alcohol that reduces bacteria.
Cheese: is thought, like milk, to boost calcium (for good strong teeth and bones) and also contains casein, which is thought to help with stabilizing and repairing tooth enamel.
Water: is the best drink. Not only does it nourish our inner bodies but it washes away acid and bacteria on teeth, and provides a source of fluoride. Fluoride is a naturally occurring mineral which protects against tooth erosion.
Sesame seeds: are thought to reduce plaque and remineralize enamel. In one study it proved to be effective in reducing bacteria and gingivitis.
In addition to these foods that do good things for your teeth, eating an overall healthy diet is also key for your oral heath, and of course for your health in general. If you want to talk to us about how your diet might affect your oral health, send us an email or give us a call — 619 421 2155. Our family dental office is always happy to hear from you and help our Chula Vista, Bonita, and San Diego area patients.