Keeping our teeth strong into adulthood is largely dependent on our diet. Eating the right foods helps improve your health in all aspects, but certain food groups help strengthen teeth. Eating healthy foods will help you avoid gum disease, cavities, tooth decay, and sensitive teeth. Here are some of the top foods that have been shown to have great results in strengthening your teeth.
1- Milk Or Cheese
Foods that are full of calcium, including dairy, are often used to help repair tooth enamel. Milk, cheese, yogurt, and even plant-based milk are a great source of calcium. Sesame seeds, almonds, left greens, and beans are other options for calcium if you are not a fan of dairy foods.
2- Vitamin C Foods
There are many foods that are high in vitamin C, which provides a lot of health benefits for the body. vitamin C helps your immune system, cardiovascular health, and wound healing, and is an antioxidant. It is vital for connective tissue, bone, and tooth health. This is why vitamin C is helpful, because not only does it help fight off bacteria, but it strengthens your jaw bones and connective tissues.
Foods high in vitamin C include:
- Guavas
- Yellow Peppers
- Oranges
- Black Currants
- Cantaloupe
- Spinach
- Kale
- Broccoli
- Kiwis
- Lemons
- Lychees
- Strawberries
- Brussels sprouts
3- Fish
Many types of fish are full of omega-3s and vitamin D, both of which help the body to absorb more calcium. Eating fish can help strengthen your teeth by increasing the amount of calcium that is getting to your teeth. When your body doesn’t have enough calcium, it starts to break down the calcium in your bones and teeth. This can lead to tooth decay, sensitivity, and broken teeth.
Fish is one of the few foods that actually contains vitamin D. Eating more fish or taking Vitamin D supplements can help you improve your calcium levels to strengthen your teeth.
4- Whole Grains
Whole-grain foods are good for your dental health. Chewing on nuts or seeds will help scrape lingering plaque from your teeth. Nuts and seeds can also contain folic acid, vitamin D, and protein.
Try some of the options below:
- Almonds
- Cashews
- Poppy seeds
- Sunflower seeds
- Sesame seeds
5- Water
Drinking water is the best way to keep your body functioning. Water helps to clean your mouth and reduce plaque that can lead to cavities. Drinking at least 8 glasses of water a day will also help limit problems like dry mouth, bad breath, gum disease, and more. Swap your sugary drinks or coffee for more water to help limit staining or deterioration.
If you are going to have wine with dinner or drink soda during the day, try following it with a glass of water to help rinse out oral bacteria. Drinking water helps you produce more saliva that helps clean your mouth throughout the day.
6- Green Tea
Green tea has a lot of research on its benefits in fighting diseases. Green tea has antioxidants that help prevent plaque from sticking to your teeth and some options may contain fluoride that will fortify your tooth enamel.
Other black tees also provide similar benefits but is less bitter than green tea. Try a milder tea to still gain some benefits for your teeth.
Limiting the amount of plaque sitting on your teeth helps to strengthen them and prevent breakage. Plaque eats away at your enamel which protects the more sensitive parts of your tooth (nerves, tissue, etc.)
7- Protein Rich Foods
The body uses protein to repair worn-out tissues, so increasing the amount of protein in your diet helps improve bone and tooth strength. Eggs, meat, beans, leafy greens, tofu, and nuts are all sources of protein that can help.
Protein also helps level out the pH in your mouth and is responsible for cavities or gum disease. Foods with phosphorus are crucial for your overall health as it is found in your bones, cell membranes, and your blood pH.
Strengthen Teeth With Sunset Dental Care
Sunset Dental is one of the best dentists in Utah. We want to help patients of all ages and backgrounds love their smiles. Your teeth go through a lot and help us with important tasks like talking, eating, and smiling. Losing your teeth is a very traumatic event, which is why proper dental cleanings are needed at least once a year.
Our team is happy to offer a state-of-the-art dental facility that helps patients feel safe. We use the highest quality tools and techniques to treat all kinds of dental issues. Our dentists and hygienists look forward to talking with you and learning about your health history.