As the saying goes, “You are what you eat.” Well, so are your teeth. A healthy diet featuring the right foods can help build strong teeth. Being careless in food choices can create a dental headache down the road..
In addition to regular dental check-ups and good habits like daily brushing and flossing, you can do several things to make your diet more tooth-friendly.
Eliminate tooth-staining drinks
A cup of coffee or a soda might be what you use to get an energy boost in the morning. It isn’t worth the discolored teeth. Red wine, black tea, dark juices, coffee and soda all stain your teeth over time. Brush your teeth after indulging in one of these drinks to keep your teeth white.
Avoid sugary foods
Sugary foods aren’t good for your waistline or your mouth. Sugar combines with bacteria in your mouth to form plaque. This can lead to bleeding gums, cavities and tooth decay as the sugar dissolves tooth enamel over time.
Eat tooth-cleaning foods
Crisp foods like apples, carrots and celery are not only nutritious, but they also act like a natural cleanser for your mouth. They help clean out food particles as you eat. This can be helpful in situations where you know you can’t brush your teeth right away.
Drink water
Water is good for your body in so many ways. It regulates your digestive system, hydrates your skin and keeps your teeth white. Drinking more water flushes food particles off your teeth and bacteria out of your mouth. This reduces your risk for developing cavities and gum disease.
Suck on hard foods
Never chew hard candy or ice. Chewing hard foods can create little fractures throughout your tooth enamel. As time goes on, these small cracks turn into huge ones – leaving behind cavities, chipped teeth and other problems.