Everybody loves eating. We do three meals a day: breakfast, lunch and dinner, but our eating habits never end here. We love to take snacks during break times. These day-to-day activities make our teeth busy doing the grinding process of every food we eat. Because eating is one of our habits, we should never forget that not all foods are good for our teeth. We must know what foods will make our teeth healthy.
Good Fruits
Go for fruits that contain vitamin C like apples, pears, kiwis, strawberries, bananas, oranges and other citrus fruits. Vitamin C acts like cement that holds our cells together which is important in maintaining a healthy gums.
Good Vegetables
Go for vegetables that contain vitamin A like carrots, pumpkin, sweet potato and broccoli. Vitamin A is responsible in tooth enamel formation. This enamel serves as the outer covering of the teeth. Celery is also good for the teeth. It increases the saliva that helps in neutralizing cavity-causing bacteria. Another good veggie is onion. Onion contains antibacterial sulfur compounds that kill different types of bacteria.
Fiber and Whole Grains
Dried fruits like dates, figs and raisins are good sources of fiber. Fiber helps in producing saliva which guards our teeth from tooth decay. Whole grains are rich in vitamin B, iron and magnesium. Vitamin B and iron keeps our gums healthy while magnesium is an important ingredient for our bones and teeth. Examples of whole grain-rich foods are brown rice, bran, and cereals.
Calcium Foods
Dairy products such as cheese, milk, and yogurt are examples of foods rich in calcium. Calcium is the key component for building and keeping strong teeth. Other calcium foods are almonds, nuts, dried beans, broccoli and canned fish with bones.
Nuts
Cashews, peanuts, almonds and walnuts are rich in calcium, magnesium and phosphate which are nutrients for the teeth.
Animal Foods
Beef, chicken, turkey, fish and eggs are foods rich in phosphorous. Phosphorous together with calcium and vitamin D keeps the teeth stronger and protects them from tooth decay. In addition, fish and other poultry products also provide iron and protein which is good for overall health and magnesium for healthy teeth.
Good Drinks
The very basic good drink for the teeth is water. Water cleanses the mouth. It washes away food deposits and keeps the gums hydrated. Another tea-friendly drink is green tea. It contains polyphenols and antioxidants that prevent plaque formation. It also reduces the chance of developing tooth cavities and gum diseases. In addition, green tea contains fluoride that protects the tooth enamel from decay.
These are only some of the good foods for our teeth. We should remember that our food choices play an important role in maintaining our teeth in good condition. Having balance diet is also an important factor so we must eat them in moderation. If we have strong teeth then we can enjoy our eating habit. Happy eating everyone!