What Food to Eat to Keep Your Teeth Strong and Healthy
Everyone knows the phrase “an apple a day keeps the doctor away”, and when you were growing up your parents would have nagged you to regularly drink lots of milk to ensure your teeth were getting enough calcium. And they weren’t wrong. To help you keep your teeth strong, we’ve compiled a list of food that you should be eating to maintain the health of your teeth.
Some of the entries on this list won’t surprise you, while others may be unexpected. Regardless, rest assured that each and every one of them is more delicious than the last!
Cheese
Cheese is fantastic for keeping your teeth healthy. It is packed full of calcium and protein, which means that it strengthens tooth enamel. It also boosts pH levels while decreasing the risk of tooth decay. Researchers also say that cheese reduces the level of acid in the mouth, as well as increasing saliva through the chewing involved with eating cheese.
Yoghurt
Similarly to cheese, yoghurt is also full of calcium and protein. On top of that, it is also a fantastic source of probiotics. Also known as good bacteria, probiotics crowds out the bacteria that causes cavities in your teeth. Choosing a plain variety of yoghurt with no added sugar will offer the best results.
Leafy greens
Leafy greens like spinach and kale are filled with — you guessed it — calcium and protein. They are also rich sources of folic acid, which is a type of B vitamin that boosts the health of your teeth and reduces the risk of gum disease, particularly for pregnant women.
Apples
The old saying is true after all! The texture of apples are fantastic for stimulating your gums, and are high in fibre and water. They are a fantastic way to keep your teeth clean in between brushes, as the chewing disturbs dental plaque and prevents it from building up.
Sugarless mints and gums
It’s not just the flavour that gives you better breath. Chewing on mints and gum delivers a boost to saliva secretion, clearing away bacteria from the mouth. The main word here is ‘sugarless’ — bacteria is reliant upon sucrose to produce plaque, which negates the benefits of chewing on mints and gum if it is not sugarless.
Milk
Do we need to say anymore? Milk is one of the richest sources of calcium there is, although missing it with sugary cereals can do more harm than good for your teeth.