General dentistry helps you to have a healthy mouth. You visit the pro, get your teeth clean and polished and have a full-out evaluation on a regular schedule. While this is certainly a step towards keeping your teeth (and entire mouth) clean, bright and free from disease, at-home care is a major factor too. Brushing at least twice a day for two minutes each time is a no-brainer when it comes to home dental care. But, what else can you do to make sure that your mouth stays healthy? Along with how you treat your teeth, what you eat can actually affect your mouth. Check out how some common foods can help your gums, teeth and overall smile.
Yogurt
Your teeth need calcium. Luckily for you (that is, if you're a yogurt-lover), this dairy delight is full of it. Along with calcium, the probiotics (good bacteria) in yogurt can help to keep your mouth and gums healthy. How? It may actually slow down the growth of disease-causing bacteria. Keep in mind, some yogurts are high in sugar. Added sugar in food is a factor when it comes to decay and cavities. A low-sugar or no-sugar option is the best bet.
Raisins
You know that chewing on sweet treats isn't healthy for your teeth. But, you still crave a snack some of the times. Instead of picking high-sugar sweets, swap them for nature's candy—raisins. Raisins contain sugars, but these aren't the highly processed types that you'll find in pre-packaged factory-made candy. In the past general dentistry practices warned against eating these dried fruits. It was thought that raisins would stick to the teeth, potential causing cavities. Recent research shows that this isn't necessarily true. Beyond this, the antioxidants that raisins contain may slow down or stop the growth of Streptococcus mutans—a bacteria that causes dental caries.
Leafy Greens
Dairy foods aren't the only calcium-containing options. If you can't stomach dairy, dark or bright leafy greens also contain calcium. Not only are greens healthy eating options, but they can also help to build your bones (this includes your jaw and teeth).
Steak and Other Meat
Meats are high in phosphorus. Like calcium, phosphorus is an important part of your dental health. It protects your teeth and helps to rebuild enamel. When you're making a meat choice, look for lean options that aren't smothered with a high-sugar sauce or ketchup (which also is typically high in sugar). These knock down the health factor of the food.
Along with visiting the dentist and caring for your teeth at home, watching what you eat can help your overall mouth health. Whether you're all about yogurt or are into spinach, high-calcium foods (and phosphorus-rich ones) can add strength to your standout smile.
Share30 November 2016
Hi, my name is Kevin Nelson and I want to tell you about my experience. I had a painful tooth so I went to see my dentist. After the examination, he said that I needed to have a root canal to save the tooth. I told the dentist to just pull the tooth instead and then he explained why that wasn't a good idea. He said that pulling the tooth would cause additional problems and then he told me what could happen. I didn't want any more problems, so the dentist did the root canal and I'm glad that he did. I wanted to write a blog to tell others about the benefits of a root canal and what to expect during the procedure. I hope that by getting the word out, other people won't make the same mistake that I almost did by getting a perfectly good tooth pulled.