It sure seems like people are always talking about what is bad for your teeth lately. We all know that you shouldn’t eat too much sugar, and that certain foods can wear down your teeth worse than others. But why doesn’t anyone ever talk about foods that can be good for your teeth?
Believe it or not, not everything that goes into your mouth will require a future root canal. Some foods out there do an equal, or even better job of taking care of your teeth than your toothbrush does, especially if you’re not using your toothbrush correctly. So, without further ado, here are five foods that improve your dental health while also nourishing your body.
Dairy Products
The recommended serving size you should be drinking daily is 2-3 servings. Milk and yogurt are low in acidity and sugar making them great choices to quench your thirst or have as a healthy snack. This is good news for both tooth erosion and tooth decay. Milk is rich in calcium, which means you are fortifying teeth and bones while refueling during the day.
Protip: Though milk is excellent for growing babies, it’s actually bad to send babies 6 months or older to bed with a bottle of milk. It sits on their teeth overnight and can cause tooth rot later. Send them to bed with a damp towel to suck on or a water bottle!
Fruits
The recommended amount of fruit you should be eating daily is 2-4 servings. Fruit is best for you when eaten in its whole, raw form. It keeps down plaque and massages your gums. Choose the fruits rich in Vitamin C, which holds our body cells together. If you are short of Vitamin C, your gums may become tender and more susceptible to gum disease.
Protip: If your child doesn’t enjoy eating fruit raw try providing them the alternative of fruit leather. Make sure you choose one lower in sugar!
Vegetables
The recommended serving of vegetables you should eat daily is 3-5 servings. Veggies are good if you are trying to build a good foundation for your teeth. Broccoli, carrots, sweet potato and pumpkin are rich in Vitamin A from which tooth enamel forms. If you eat them raw you will get more Vitamin A, as well as clean your teeth and massage your gums.
Protip: If your child hates eating vegetables, try blending them up in smoothies to disguise the taste.
Protein
The recommended amount of meat you should eat daily is 2-3 servings. Beef, chicken, eggs, and turkey are rich in phosphorus. Calcium combines with phosphorus and Vitamin D to produce our teeth and bones. Make sure you get enough protein to keep your teeth healthy, and reduce decay.
Protip: Make sure you are eating mostly fish, nuts, or poultry for a better heart and lungs, and avoid too much red meat when looking for protein!
Water
There is no recommended serving size for water. The best advice is to simply drink water when you are thirsty, as well as avoid sugary drinks and juices! When you rinse with water, it cleans your mouth so that your saliva can nourish your teeth, hydrate your gums, and help wash away trapped food particles that can create plague.
Protip: Help your child start healthy water-drinking habits by ensuring they drink one 8oz glass of water either before school or before bed. This will help clean their teeth, flush out their digestive system, and keep them healthy and happy!
Diet & Oral Health
As children grow it’s not only important to help them establish healthy eating habits, it’s equally important to help them develop healthy oral habits. Children should be learning to brush and floss their own teeth from an early age (approximately 2-3 years), and encourage them to eat the above listed foods to help them appreciate good oral health.
At Burg Children’s Dentistry we are huge advocates for healthy diets paired with healthy oral habits. We know how interconnected they are, and we strive to help children understand it too. If you think your child is ready for their first dental appointment, or you have any questions about your child’s habits you can call any of our offices here, or you can fill out the form on our site. We hope you have found some good tips for helping your little ones grow their teeth big and strong!
