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When it comes to the health of your teeth, you really are what you eat.
Empty calorie foods such as candy, sweets, and snack foods endanger dental health, not only because they do not offer any nutritional value, but also because the amount and type of sugar that they contain that can adhere to teeth. The bacteria in your mouth feed off these sugars, releasing acids, and that’s what leads to tooth decay. Sugar-containing drinks—soda, lemonade, juice and sweetened coffee or tea (iced or hot)—are particularly harmful because sipping them causes a constant sugar bath over teeth, which promotes tooth decay.
Try these healthy foods instead to improve your diet and the health of your mouth:
1. Eating cheese can lower the risk of tooth decay. It’s thought that the chewing required in order to eat cheese, increases saliva in the mouth. Cheese also contains calcium and protein both of which strengthen tooth enamel.
2. The beneficial bacteria, or probiotics found in yogurt also benefit your gums because the good bacteria crowd out bacteria that cause cavities. Choose a plain variety with no added sugar.
3. Leafy greens such as kale and spinach promote oral health because they are high in calcium, which builds your teeth’s enamel, and folic acid, which can treat gum.
4. Fruits, such as apples, might be sweet, but they’re also high in fiber and water. The action of eating an apple produces saliva in your mouth, which rinses away bacteria and food particles. The fibrous texture of the fruit also stimulates the gums.
5. Like apples, carrots are crunchy and full of fiber. Eating a handful of raw carrots at the end of the meal increases saliva production in your mouth, which reduces your risk of cavities. Along with being high in fiber, carrots are a great source of vitamin A.
6. Almonds are great for your teeth because they are a good source of calcium and protein while being low in sugar. Enjoy a quarter cup of almonds with your lunch. You can also add a handful to a salad or to a stir-fry dinner.
7. Along with adding more leafy greens, dairy products and fibrous vegetables to your diet, pay attention to what you’re drinking. Since it has no calories or sugar, water is always the best pick, especially compared to juice or soda.
Remember that your diet makes a big difference when it comes to a healthy smile!
Yours in health!
Dr. Mele
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Dental Friendly Kaleberry Smoothie
Reference: Toothpick.com
Ingredients:
• 1 banana
• 8 ounces brewed, chilled green tea
• 4 ice cubes
• 1⁄2 cup frozen blueberries
• 1⁄2 cup frozen strawberries
• 4 kale leaves
• 1⁄4 cup Greek yogurt
• 1 teaspoon xylitol (available in health food stores)
Instructions:
Put ice, tea, and kale into blender. Blend until no pieces of kale are visible. Add remaining ingredients and blend until smooth.
Benefit: This smoothie is high in calcium, which helps build strong teeth. It also contains strawberries, which are full of malic acid, a gentle but extremely effective bleaching agent that removes stains from coffee, tea, soda and red wine. The fiber in strawberries also helps scrape plaque from the teeth.