You are what you eat. It could not be truer when it comes to dental hygiene.
Our food intake can enhance or worsen our oral
health.
Teeth are the first organs which come in
contact with whatever we eat. This is why we are always advised to stay away
from certain food items or restrict their use.
Limiting our use of caffeine may seem unfair,
but we can always use it to our advantage. How? Well, eat food that are good
for our dental hygiene and enjoy different tastes and textures at the same time
(clue: cheese).
Here are five food items that are good for our
dental hygiene:
Cheese
Cheese is one of the
most diverse and tastiest foods. Who doesn’t like cheese? Good thing, it also
makes our teeth stronger in a number of ways.
First, it is a yummier source of calcium (good
news for those who do not like milk) and protein, supporting both teeth enamel and
jaw bones. Secondly, it increases the pH in our mouth. This prevents bacteria
growth, lowering the risk of tooth decay.
Finally, cheese increases mouth activity and
induces saliva production. Our saliva is our natural anti-bacterial defense; an
increase in its production means enhanced health hygiene.
Yogurt
Being another dairy product, yogurt is another
good choice of both calcium and proteins. It also has good bacteria, often
termed ‘probiotics’, which fight for their place with the cavity forming
bacteria in our mouth.
This prevents the bad bacteria from growing
which are responsible not only for tooth decay but also for bad breath.
Green
vegetables and vitamins
Leafy greens, such as spinach and kale, are a
great source of vitamins. They are rich in calcium and folic acid, a type of
vitamin B.
These vitamins, along with calcium, help
strengthen gums and teeth.
If you do not like vegetable much, it is a good
idea to sprinkle a few leaves over your pizza or in various curries. You can
always add a bit of kale to your salad or smoothies.
Green tea
While tea and coffee can be harmful for your
teeth, green tea is instead a very healthy option for your oral health.
Being rich in polyphenols, it can potentially
clean plaque from your teeth. However, it is recommended to always use it in
limits. Remember, the excess of anything can be more harmful than good general dentistry services.
Almonds
Almonds also have a high amount of calcium and
proteins. Furthermore, they are low in sugar. This means that they do not only
make your teeth stronger but also prevent growth of bacteria because of
unavailability of sugar.
A handful of almonds regularly, either alone or
as part of your salad, can help you maintain your oral hygiene.
It is a good idea to include all these food as
part of your diet. For more recommendations regarding food intake, consult a family dentist at our dental service center.
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