Learn What Foods to Enjoy and What Foods to Eat More of to Improve Your Oral Health
If you believe the myths, there are certain foods that you absolutely cannot eat without doing damage to your teeth. This is false. There are some foods that are more likely to cause damage if eaten in excess over time, but there are no foods that are entirely off-limits. However, there are some foods that can actually boost the health of your teeth and gums.
Keep reading to find out which foods can help and which can hinder. Then contact California Dental Group at (800) 407-0161 to make an appointment with a local California dentist.
Keep Sugar and High-Carb Foods to a Minimum
The idea is not to avoid foods but rather to eat certain foods in moderation while knowing the effect they can have on your teeth. Foods that are high in sugar and/or carbs can essentially turn into acid when they come into contact with your saliva. This can cause damage to the enamel over time. That sugar can also act as a type of fuel for bacteria, which can increase growth. Keep these foods to a minimum, and be sure you are brushing and flossing half an hour after eating them.
Be Careful How Many Sticky Foods You Eat
You should also be careful to reduce the amount of foods you eat that can stick to your teeth. Think of caramel and how sticky it is. When you eat it, do you think that you get 100% of it off your teeth? Likely not. If you eat anything that gets stuck in your teeth, floss or use a toothpick right away to prevent food particles from becoming lodged between your teeth.
Eat Cleansing Foods
Some foods can actually help to clean your teeth. For example, apples and celery both are crunchy, which is great for your gums. The fact that they both need to be chewed excessively also makes them great at boosting saliva. When you consider that saliva is essentially your natural tooth cleaner, it is easy to see why these would be good foods to have at the end of a meal.
Make Sure You’re Getting Your Vitamins and Minerals
When you eat plenty of vitamins and minerals, you can boost your overall oral health. Citrus fruits have a lot of Vitamin c, which can help improve oral health. Vitamin D is an important vitamin too because it can help boost your immune system, which can then better fight mouth bacteria.
Come in for a Dental Cleaning and Check Up
Even if you eat only the best food and skip the ones that could cause damage, you still need dental cleanings and exams. If it has been more than six months since you have had one, contact California Dental Group at (800) 407-0161 today.
