What are the best foods to eat for a healthy smile?

Your teeth also benefit from the food you eat. If you’re paying attention to your oral hygiene routine, then you’ll also want to be cautious about your diet. Let's talk about the best foods for your teeth and gums.

Cleaning Teeth the Natural Way

Food that's high in water content serves as natural teeth cleaners. These crunchy foods encourage the flow of saliva. They’re also ideal snacks as they can be enjoyed as is.

Here are examples:

• Apples. They taste great and are easily accessible. Munching on apples after a meal will also help flush down food debris.
• Carrots. Chewing on raw carrots helps fight cavities, promote saliva production, and strengthen tooth enamel.
• Celery. Eating celery massages your gums and helps produce more saliva that neutralise acids in the mouth.

Keeping Bones Healthy and Strong

Our teeth lose and replenish minerals naturally. However, when the acidity level in the mouth is too high, minerals aren’t immediately replenished. Acid can wear away the tooth enamel.

Calcium is crucial as it strengthens the bones together with phosphorus. Calcium can be derived from these food choices:

• Yogurt. This popular snack is packed with calcium that shields the teeth against cavity-causing bacteria. Yogurt also helps balance acid levels in the mouth and slow down bacterial growth.
• Cheese. Cheese is rich in calcium and phosphate that strengthen the teeth. Like yogurt, it also helps balance the pH level in the mouth.
• Tofu. Tofu is loaded with phosphorus, which makes it a tooth-friendly snack.
• Meat and poultry. These food choices are rich in protein and are also great sources of phosphorus. They also help protect and remineralize the tooth enamel.

Maximizing Calcium Absorption

Vitamin D is crucial as it helps the body absorb calcium. Without it, the mouth will be at risk for gum disease and tooth decay. 

• Egg yolks. Include egg yolks to your diet too as it contains Vitamin D that protects against dental caries.
• Exposure to the sun. While this isn’t food, it’s the best source of Vitamin D. When the sun’s out, spend some time outdoors too. Even only 15 minutes under the sun can already benefit the body.

Keep your meals varied and include the choices above in your recipes. Eat toward a healthier and stronger smile.