Bacteria in the mouth convert sugars from the foods you eat to acids, and it’s these acids that begin to attack the enamel on teeth, starting the decay process. Problems arise if these acids aren’t neutralized, if your tooth enamel has already been weakened through poor food choices, and if you don’t follow proper dental hygiene habits. These are the primary reasons why your food and beverage choices are so important.
Some of the best nutrients for your teeth include:
1. Dairy
Unsweetened yogurt and milk are great for your teeth since they have a low acidity, which means consuming them is less likely to cause dental erosion. It means that the gradual wearing away of the teeth, also called dental erosion, is less. In addition, they are low in sugar, which means less dental decay as well. Of course, dairy is an excellent source of calcium, which not only helps keep teeth healthy, but are is one of the main components of teeth and bones.
In addition to the above benefits, dairy, in addition to nuts and meats, are low in carbohydrates and has also has a high amount of phosphorus, which can in the process of redepositing minerals in tooth enamel after they’ve been being removed by acids. These foods also help balance your mouth’s pH, produce acid-reducing saliva, and help kill the bacteria that cause cavities and gum disease.
2. Green Tea
Green tea contains polyphenols, which are antioxidant plant compounds that prevent plaque from adhering to your teeth and help reduce your chances of developing cavities and gum disease. Green tea also can help reduce bad breath by inhibiting the growth of the bacteria that causes mouth odors. because it inhibits the growth of the bacteria that cause the odor. Green tea can also help protect tooth enamel from decay.
3. Fruit
Apples, strawberries, and kiwis are rich with vitamin C, an important nutrient for the health of your gum tissue. According to studies, vitamin C deficiency can result in the breakdown of the collagen network in your gums, making them tender and more susceptible to periodontal disease. These foods have a high water content, which dilutes the effects of the sugars they contain, and stimulate the flow of saliva (which helps protect against decay by washing away food particles and buffering acid).
Acidic foods, such as citrus fruits, tomatoes, and lemons, should be eaten as part of a larger meal to minimize the acid from them.
4. Vegetables
Pumpkin, carrots, sweet potato and broccoli are full of vitamin A, a vitamin that is crucial to the development and health tooth enamel. In addition, crunchy vegetables help clean and stimulate your gums. Certain vegetables, like onion and celery, can actually help kill or neutralize various types of bacteria.
5. Sesame Seeds
Sesame seeds help slough off plaque and helps build tooth enamel. Sesame seeds are also high in calcium.
6. Water
Water cleans the mouth of acids, allowing nutrients to help deposit essential minerals back to teeth. Drinking water also helps keeps gums hydrated and helps wash away trapped food particles that decompose in the mouth and cause bad breath and other dental health problems.