Healthy Food and Oral Health Go Hand in Hand
You are what you eat; hence choose your options wisely! You will be lying if you say that your elders and dentist have never told you to stay away from sugary and sticky food because it will ruin your oral health. Let us accept that all the starchy and carbonated goodness that makes our taste buds jump can initiate a series of dental and overall health problems. Even after brushing twice a day followed by flossing and mouthwash, did your teeth still fall prey to the bacteria? It is high time to reassess your food intake. Because, all your life, you have been guided on what foods to avoid for good oral health, but nobody told you what foods can make your teeth strong.
Worry not; we have got you covered! Stick with us until the end to know what foods can improve your oral health.
Oral Health and Food- What is the connection?
All of us are aware that we need to maintain a well-balanced diet to remain physically and mentally fit. However, most of us are still in the dark when relating healthy food to oral health.
Healthy food supplies our body with the crucial nutrients and energy it needs to fight off infections, aid in healing and rebuilding tissues in every part of the body, including your teeth and gums. Dental hygienists and dentists worldwide encourage their patients to upgrade their diet with healthy options to promote good oral hygiene.
From eating fast foods and junks to bandwagoning the fad diets, we all have been there. However, the lack of nutrition can weaken the body and compromise immunity, not even sparing oral health. Unhealthy food has repercussions, from heart diseases, diabetes, bone diseases, and cancers (oral cancer). The consumption of high sugar levels is the worst you can do to yourself. Apart from getting diabetic, it can harbor bacteria in your mouth that instigate many dental problems such as tooth decay (dental caries) and gum diseases (periodontal problems).
Therefore, the rule is simple: good food means good health, and bad food means bad health.
What Foods Promote Good Oral Health?
Remember, the general rule of thumb is that oral health=overall health! Do you love snacking and munching while binge-watching a movie or gossiping over the phone? Well, you can start smart snacking that keeps both your tummy and oral health happy. Next time you go for groceries, ensure you look for food that has the following nutrients:
*Calcium-rich foods: For ages, mothers have been running after their kids to make them gulp their milk or at least have a bowl of yogurt. Why? Because it has calcium. We all know calcium is the building block for our bones and teeth. Even if you do not like milk, I bet you would not say no to cheese!
*Phosphorus: It makes your teeth strong and helps them fight off bacteria. It is abundantly found in meat, fish, eggs, beans, and nuts.
*Vitamin C: It aids in wound healing and helps promote healthy gums and mucosa (inner lining) of your mouth. Citrus fruits, lemons, spinach, peppers, etc., are all great sources to make your blood vitamin C positive!
Now that you know what your body and oral cavity needs, here are some readily available and tasty foods that can highly improve your oral health and help you stay fit.
*Water: Not a surprise, right? We know that water is the key to hydration that keeps your body fueled up and your brain functioning. Similarly, drinking water with a snack or food can help the bacteria, and sticky particles drain away before they adhere to the tooth surface and create a dilemma. Moreover, fluoridated water makes your teeth stronger. But remember, overuse of anything is harmful; hence check the fluoride levels in your water supply.
*Time for some dairy! Milk, cheese, and yogurt are excellent sources of calcium, and most of us already love them. Cheese is low in sugars and fat while high in calcium. Therefore, it keeps your calorie count in check and your oral health at an optimum. On the other hand, yogurt is enriched with calcium. It is packed with probiotics, which are plentiful in preventing the oral cavity from tooth decay, bad odor (halitosis), and gum diseases.
*Get some greens. Vegetables are your best friend when you are adapting to healthier lifestyles, especially green ones. Adding the crunchy and leafy veggies like spinach, kale, and lettuce supplies your body with calcium, folic acid, and necessary vitamins and minerals that contribute to a healthy smile.
*Enjoy your fruits! Oranges, nectarines, apples, and pears are excellent for your oral health. As you must remember- eat an apple a day, keep the doctor, or should I say your dentist, away!
*Crispy and chewy (not sticky) foods help get rid of plaque (a sticky, slimy layer that harbors bacteria) that keeps tooth decay and gum disease active.
Apart from all of the enlisted healthy foods, you can add nuts, coffee, tea, fish, meats, and eggs in moderation to your diet to level up your oral hygiene game.
Foods You Need To Stay Away From!
Although you must have heard this enough, as a friendly and healthy reminder, here is a list of foods you need to stay from for the sake of your oral health. They are just a source of acid and sugar that provides a perfect environment in the oral cavity for the bacteria to thrive and prosper, compromising your oral health.
Sugary and sticky foods like candies
Carbonated drinks
Excessive consumption of pickles
Overeating of citrus fruits
Sports or energy-boosting beverages
Time To Say Goodbye To Your Unhealthy Choices!
A genuine smile comes straight from the heart, while a healthy smile comes from the food you eat and the dental care you practice. Therefore, if you want to maintain optimum oral health, make good choices with the food you eat.
