We all know it’s important to brush and floss daily and to see your dentist regularly. But maintaining the health of your mouth is much more than that. Since your teeth are used every day to eat, what you put into your mouth makes a difference. Follow these tips to help keep your teeth and gums healthy.
Limit sugar intake. Okay, forget what your mother said, sugar itself won’t rot your teeth. However, sugar does breed oral bacteria that cause decay. Oral bacteria just love to feed on sticky carbohydrates like sugar, and produces an acid as part of the fermentation process. If you eat a lot of sugary foods, it’s important to have great oral hygiene to keep the bacteria at bay.
Get more calcium. Calcium is great for building strong bones, but it also benefits your teeth. Include foods like dark leafy greens, milk and cheese, tofu, broccoli, almonds, green beans and canned fish with their bones in your diet for additional calcium.
Beware of acidic food. Foods with high levels of acid can be damaging to your tooth enamel and your gums. Acid can also affect tooth sensitivity. Some of the more common, acidic foods are:
- Soda
- Coffee
- Citrus juice
- Pickled or fermented foods
- Grains
While these foods are necessarily bad foods, they can cause damage to your teeth if they are eaten too much. Your best bet is to limit them. If you are going to eat them often, couple them with a well-balanced meal, and rinse your mouth or brush your teeth after.
Eat more fruits and veggies. While these can be high in sugar, they are also high in water and fiber. And it’s the latter two that help balance out the sugars, keeping your teeth healthy. In addition, many fruits naturally help stimulate the production of saliva, which helps to naturally cleanse your mouth. Some fruits and vegetable to eat for optimum oral health are:
- Apples
- Pineapples
- Bananas
- Carrots
- Celery
- Garlic
These are all high in essential nutrients and vitamins, but they are also high in minerals and enzymes that help break up plaque.
Chew xylitol gum. Don’t reach for a candy mint after your meal. Instead, chew on some xylitol gum. Xylitol is a low-glycemic, natural sweetener. It is made from plant fibers and doesn’t break down in your mouth like sugar. In fact, many dentists promote xylitol as a natural way to protect your teeth. Many natural types of toothpaste contain xylitol as an alternative to fluoride.
Drink more green tea. Green tea contains antioxidants and can be a great boost to your health, but it can also help your teeth. Green tea has been shown to help control oral bacteria and even lower the acidity of saliva. It is also anti-inflammatory and could help control gum disease.
Keeping your mouth healthy takes more than brushing and flossing. It’s about preventing bacteria and decay, and paying attention to what you put into your mouth can make a difference. Follow these tips to help keep your teeth and your gums healthy and happy.