Every morsel and beverage that enters your mouth has a significant impact on your health and happiness. Since your smile makes the initial impression for connecting with people, consumption of quality foods is imperative. From dental implants to teeth whitening to crowns and bridges, it goes without saying that food is fuel and food helps oral health.
What To Look For At The Grocery Store
If you’re planning to shop for your oral health at a natural foods market, the entire store holds value. Here are the top five foods to choose if your oral health needs a boost:
1. Cheese and Yogurt – Cheese has been shown to provide a significant amount of natural teeth cleaning when eaten solo. If you have a favorite, slice up a few healthy chunks and rest assured your teeth will be happy. Yogurt, on the other hand, is beneficial for your gut. And if your gut is in good shape, chances are the remainder of your overall health isn’t going to suffer.
2. Apples – A seasonal fruit that is a wholesome cleanse for your teeth as well as your body. The pectin of the apple is what maintains your smile. One bite and any lingering bacteria or food particles can be cleansed away.
3. Whole Wheat or Gluten-Free Bread – Not only are grains good for the body, they provide a mild scrubbing benefit to your teeth. Whether it’s hamburger buns, homemade sourdough, or any other bread involved with your meal, each bite will ensure that your toothbrush can remain in your bag until you get home to properly brush.
4. Celery and Onions – Both of these foods provide antiviral properties, in addition to being overall healthy for the body. Eating them raw gives the most benefit to the teeth (due to their crunch factor), so for the biggest benefit to your teeth be sure not to cook either one prior to ingesting.
5. Carbonated Water – The bubble action when drinking sparkling water without any sugar or additives helps wash away bacteria and leftover food particles. Carbonated water also relieves upset stomach and indigestion. The fizziness makes you want to burp and ease the pressure in the gut. This cleanse is powerful for oral health, in that many diseases and inflammation begins in the mouth and sends signals to the body.
How Food Choices Will Impact Your Smile
Your smile is your ticket to success. No matter how much you might want to hide your teeth due to embarrassment or lack of self-confidence, the instant you smile is a guarantee that relationships and work success can improve. To compound this feeling, Dr. Dillard has outlined specific foods that wreak havoc on your smile and which choices are better for you. The main culprits that contribute to poor oral health include:
—Red wine – If you are heavily invested in wine at all, consider opting for white wine instead. Your teeth will thank you, as the staining properties of red wine are significant.
—Berries – Not all berries are created equal, however blueberries, strawberries, raspberries, and blackberries might certainly cause teeth-staining. If you are in search of alternatives for Vitamin C within fruits, try pineapple and melons. If you unable to go without berries, carry along a toothbrush to cleanse after eating. Or swish warm water in your mouth after a meal heavily laden with berries.
—Coffee and Tea – Both beverages are very popular, therefore it’s beneficial to add milk or cream to coffee, and switch to herbal or green varieties for your tea drinking. The dairy will offset the blackness of the coffee, and instead of sipping on black teas (which have the most teeth-staining capabilities) its counterpart in both green and herbal have less caffeine and an even lesser ability to harm your smile.
—Beets – This isn’t considered a mainstream food by any stretch, yet eating beets often will give your teeth some discoloration, despite their healthy quality. Your best defense is to brush right away to avoid any lingering stains on your smile.
For Further Assistance
We at Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery of the Lowcountry are prepared to offer solutions to any dental problems you might encounter. Missing teeth due to avoidance of care are our number one reason patients return to us time after time. Our natural-teeth replacements help each person realize their smile dreams, as Dr. Dillard has the ability to transform each patient’s woes into wonder. To learn more about what we do, and also any further questions you may have regarding food choices for your oral health, contact our office today.