Your body is like a complex machine. The foods you choose as fuel and how often you "fill up" affect your general health and that of your teeth and gums. Eating patterns and food choices among children and teens are important factors that affect how quickly youngsters may develop tooth decay. A proper program of diet, exercise, freedom from stress, and sensible living habits will insure that your teeth will last for a lifetime.
In order to maintain good dental health, you should maintain a healthy diet and good nutrition. It is important to eat from all of the food groups, including grains, vegetables, fruits, milk, meats/beans and eat some extras sparingly, like oils and fats. A balanced diet is very important in helping to prevent cavities. Cavities are a result of what we eat and how often those foods are eaten.
Just as there are certain foods and drinks that are good for your overall health, there are many that are especially good for your smile. Here's a list of foods and drinks that will help you acquire, and maintain, the bright white smile of your dreams:
- Fresh Fruits
Fresh fruit is probably the very best choice you can make for dental health. Fresh fruit stimulates saliva, which decreases the amount of acid in your mouth. Further, saliva helps wash away unwanted food particles. Apples are probably the best fruit to eat for healthy teeth. Not only do they provide the benefits described above, but they also contain a natural cleansing abrasive that basically helps polish your teeth.
- Carrots and Celery (Ajmud)
These two fiber filled vegetables are excellent for your teeth because they serve to stimulate the gums, which is crucial for dental health.
- Dairy Products
Calcium is a prime ingredient for building strong teeth, especially for growing children. Dairy is a great source, with choices such as milk, yogurt, and cheese. And calcium isn't hiding in the fat, so skim milk and low-fat yogurt are just as good.
- Whole grains
Whole grains provide B vitamins and iron, which help keep gums healthy. Whole grains have magnesium which is an important ingredient for bones and teeth.
- Sugarless Gum
The main benefit of sugarless gum is that it serves as a saliva stimulant. More saliva in your mouth will lessen chance of unwanted food particles. This avoids cavities and gum disease. Further, sugarless gum won't harm tooth enamel.
- Water
Water flushes away food particles, and it contains flouride which helps keep enamel strong.
However there are a lot of foods that need to be avoided as they harm your teeth. These are:
- Black Coffee/Tea: Those daily cups of java that you love are dimming your smile. The darker the drink, the worse it is for your teeth.
- Red wine: It contains polyphenols which are responsible for causing tooth staining and the alcohol in red wine is highly acidic and wears away tooth enamel, exposing the soft yellow dentin underneath.
- Popsicles (Ice-lolly): Popsicles are a colorful summertime favorite, but those dyes that color your lips and tongue funny colors are also staining your teeth.
- Soy Sauce: It may be good on rice, but it isn't good on your teeth. Soy sauce sticks to teeth and its deep colored pigments can cause bad stains.
- Sugary foods: Sugars are not good for teeth. Minimize foods that contain sugars. It's better if you have all your sugar at once, than to distribute it throughout the day.
Here are some routine tips that you can incorporate for a better, stronger and healthier teeth:
- Maintain a healthy diet.
- Make sure water is readily available and drink water more often.
- Limit the number of between-meal snacks. When you must snack, choose nutritious foods that are low in sugar.
- Brush thoroughly twice a day with a fluoride toothpaste.
- Floss or use another kind of interdental cleaner daily to remove plaque from under the gums and between teeth.
- Schedule regular dental visits for checkup and cleaning.
In order to have healthy white teeth, choosing the right food in your diet is very important. The good food in your diet will help achieve good oral hygiene which will reflect in your beautiful smile and everybody likes a good smile, Right?
