• 25 JAN 17
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    Top 7 Foods to Eat for Healthy Teeth and Gums

    If you want a healthy smile, it’s important to maintain good oral hygiene, including brushing and flossing every day. You should also focus on eating the right foods. We’ve already discussed the drinks and snacks you should avoid – such as candy, soda, and refined carbohydrates – so now it’s time to learn which foods to include in your diet for healthy teeth and gums.

    Cheese

    Dairy lovers rejoice – cheese has finally made it onto a list of foods you should eat! A 2013 study revealed that eating cheese raises the pH level in your mouth, making your saliva less acidic and lowering the risk of tooth decay as a result. Cheese also contains protein and calcium, which are nutrients your body needs to maintain healthy tooth enamel.

    Plain Yogurt

    As with cheese and other dairy products, yogurt is high in protein and calcium, which is good news if you want to strengthen tooth enamel. Plus, yogurt contains probiotics, which crowd out the harmful bacteria in your mouth that can cause cavities. The trick to achieving healthy teeth and gums is to eat plain yogurt with no added sugar.

    Leafy Greens

    You’ve probably noticed that leafy greens make it onto just about every healthy foods list. They’re packed with vitamins and minerals, not calories. Plus, kale, spinach, and other leafy greens also promote healthy teeth and gums because they’re high in calcium. These super foods also contain folic acid, a type of B vitamin that studies suggest can treat gum disease in pregnant women. To increase your leafy green intake, include some baby spinach in your next salad, throw chopped up kale on a pizza, or blend some greens into a fruit smoothie.

    top-7-foods-to-eat-for-healthy-teeth-and-gumsApples

    What do you know? An apple a day doesn’t just keep the doctor away – it also keeps the dentist away! Apples might be sweet, but unlike candy, they’re high in fiber. Plus, the act of eating an apple increases saliva production, which rinses away bacteria. Even the texture of apples helps to scrub your teeth and stimulate your gums as you chew. It may not replace brushing, but eating a few apple slices is a great way to freshen your mouth at the end of a meal.

    Carrots

    Raw carrot sticks offer many of the same benefits as apples. They’re crunchy, full of fiber, and encourage saliva production, making them an ideal food with which to end a meal. Plus, carrots contain beta-carotene that the body converts into vitamin A. This nutrient helps prevent dry mouth, a condition that increases your risk of gingivitis, tooth decay, and oral infections. Vitamin A also allows mouth sores to heal faster. Top your salad with a handful of julienned carrots or eat a few baby carrots on their own to enjoy these benefits.

    Celery

    As another food that acts a bit like a toothbrush, celery is great at scraping away food particles and washing bacteria from your mouth. It also contains vitamin A and the antioxidant vitamin C, which gives your gums a health boost. Raw celery provides the most benefits, so try topping a spear with peanut butter or cream cheese to make it tastier.

    Almonds

    In addition to being an excellent source of calcium and protein, almonds are also low in sugar. They’re crunchy, which means they won’t gum up your teeth, and they provide a power-packed energy boost. Munch on a quarter cup of almonds with your lunch or toss a handful into your salad or stir-fry dinner to get the benefits you’re looking for.

    Schedule a Dentist Appointment with Dr. Evanson

    In addition to including these seven tooth-benefiting foods in your diet, be sure to visit the dentist every six months for a professional teeth cleaning and checkup. To schedule your next appointment, please contact Evanson DDS by calling (720) 409-0008 today.

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