What Foods Are Good For Your Teeth?

What Foods Are Good For Your Teeth?

Published 20/02/2021

Last Reviewed 20/05/2024

Everyone knows brushing and flossing regularly are the key to a healthy, fresh smile. But that’s not all. Food also plays an important part in building good oral and dental health. Certain foods may be yummy to eat, but they’re equally adored by bacteria. They’ll bring in gum diseases and tooth decay along too. There are also foods that harm your enamel. On the other end of the spectrum, there are foods that are good for your teeth. These tooth friendly foods are rich in some important nutrients that will encourage healthy teeth and gums. Though they'll boost your teeth and gum health, don't ever eat them as a replacement for brushing every day. A healthy diet, brushing, and flossing should all go hand in hand for the perfect smile.

 

What Foods Are Good For Your Teeth and Gums?

There are actually foods that keep your teeth strong and shiny and keep your mouth free of bacteria that cause mouth odors. So what are the best foods for dental health? There's an exhaustive list to pick from, but here are the most effective ones you should definitely include in your diet for healthy teeth.

Water

The importance of water cannot be highlighted enough. Among the drinks that are good for your teeth, water tops the list. Staying hydrated is good for your overall health, besides promoting teeth and gums health.

If you get fluoridated water, that’s especially good for your teeth, according to medical advice by ADA. One article suggests that if you get fluoride in your community water system, it can prevent at least 25% of tooth decay cases in children and adults.

 

Dairy Products

Dairy products are some of the best foods that prevent tooth decay and for multiple reasons. For one, they’re high in calcium and phosphate, making them an excellent food for healthy teeth and bones.

High levels of calcium are very important for keeping up your bone density. Phosphate contributes to balancing the pH levels in the mouth. Balanced pH helps keep your tooth enamel intact, preventing tooth decay in the long run. Milk, cheese and other dairy products are good sources of calcium.

Aside from calcium and phosphates, yogurt is also rich in probiotics. This makes it one of the major foods that clean your teeth.

 

Chewing Gum (Low Sugar)

Is gum good for you teeth?

Yes!  It may not be the best addition to a nutritious diet, but it’s definitely among the recommended tooth friendly foods, provided you choose the right one. Preferably, use sugar-free chewing gum and never swallow it!

The magic isn't in the gum itself; it's in the chewing. When you chew more frequently, your saliva production speeds up. More saliva will translate into a more thorough cleaning of your mouth from harmful bacteria, acids, and food particles. Keeping your mouth clean also helps maintain fresh breath.

 

Nuts

Foods that are good for teeth Nuts

Nuts are among the best foods that are good for your teeth. They’re packed with all sorts of nutrients to boost your oral health. Cashews, almonds, and Brazil nuts are especially recommended as foods that prevent tooth decay. They help in getting rid of bacteria that cause tooth decay. Peanuts are also great since they’re rich in calcium and Vitamin D. Walnuts are an excellent source of fibers, iron, thiamine, and bundles of other nutrients important for your teeth and overall health.

 

Teas

Do you drink unsweetened green and black teas often? If you don't, start drinking these now since they're drinks that are good for your teeth. Both types of teas contain polyphenols in them that are very effective in fighting bacteria and preventing plaque. The same antioxidants that are present in polyphenols, phloretin and ferulic, are also available in all of PerioSciences’ products.

They prevent bacteria from growing inside your mouth and create acids that dissolve the enamel from your teeth. Since you’ll also be using water to brew the tea, that’s an added advantage for your oral health, particularly if you get fluoridated water.

 

Leafy Greens

Leafy greens, such as lettuce, kale, and spinach, are rich in fibers, calcium, and all the important vitamins and minerals that keep your teeth and gums healthy. Furthermore, they also help in the production of saliva, keeping your mouth free of bacteria and bad breath.

Bad breath isn’t only treated by healthy food. A good oral hygiene routine is just as important as a healthy diet. Read our article Should You Brush or Floss First? to learn more about maintaining your optimal oral hygiene.

 

Apples and Pears

Hard fiber-rich fruits, like apples and pears, that promote chewing are excellent for your teeth and gums. Natural sugars in such fruits can help neutralize acids in your mouth, preventing tooth decay. Apples also contain phloretin and ferulic acid. Both antioxidants are helpful in maintaining healthy teeth. Phloretin is derived from apples and the root bark of fruit trees including pear and grapefruit, this antioxidant neutralizes damaging free radicals neutralizes harmful free radicals. While ferulic acid Ferulic acid is an antioxidant found in the cell walls of plants such as rice and oats and the seeds of apples and oranges, where it plays a key role in the plants' protection and self-preservation. It helps against hypersensitivity.

Furthermore, chewing hard, fibrous fruits stimulate saliva production, clearing your mouth of harmful substances. In short, they're foods that clean your teeth naturally.

 

Carrots and Celery

Raw carrots, celery, and other healthy vegetables also promote chewing, strengthening your teeth, and cleaning the mouth of food of bacteria and food particles. It will prevent plaques from developing and will keep your teeth and gums shiny.

Other than all the chewing they ask for, you’ll also find plenty of nutrients in them to maintain your overall health. Carrots are rich in keratin and Vitamin A, helping you maintain stronger tooth enamel and put up a better resistance against plaque.

Include more healthy, raw vegetables in your diet because they are foods that are good for your teeth and gums.

 

Worst Foods For Teeth?

So you are now aware of the foods that are good for your teeth. Obviously not all foods are great for your teeth. You should also be aware of bad food for teeth. Maintain your oral health by avoiding such foods. They pose damage to your tooth enamel, develop cavities and cause sensitive teeth.

So which foods are bad for your teeth? Foods that are rich in sugar, alcohol, and soda drinks are just some of the items you need to cross out from your everyday diet. Apart from these, there are other foods too that will need to be avoided. Replace them with healthy tooth friendly foods to improve your oral health.

Read our article Foods That Harm Enamel to find out more about the foods that damage your tooth enamel and are bad for your oral health. If you can't eliminate these completely from your lifestyle, you can at least try to cut down on their consumption. That's a good start for improving your dental health.

 

Food for Healthy Teeth Conclusion

So you have plenty of foods that are good for your teeth to include in your health. However, diet isn’t the only thing you need to focus on if you want a healthy smile. Together with a good diet, you’ll need a complete makeover of your oral and dental health regime.

Brush and floss regularly, and maintain good oral health with PerioSciences’ line of exclusive natural toothpaste, natural mouthwash, and dental gel. Complement it with a good, balanced diet with nutrient-rich fruits, vegetables, and protein foods to enjoy the same stunning smile on yourself as you often see in toothpaste commercials! Yes, with all the right practice, there’s no reason why you can’t have that bright smile you’ve been longing for all this time!