HappyLifestyleJournal
Brushing your teeth and flossing regularly will surely contribute to your teeth being healthier and help you get rid of the bacteria built up due to residual food particles. However, what you eat also directly affects the health of your teeth, and some foods can affect the health of your gums and teeth. For instance, if you consume many sugary snacks or drinks, your teeth are at risk of tooth decay, so in order to prevent that, you should limit the intake of sugar. However, it’s not only what you eat that can affect your oral health, but when you eat as well. You should try to limit snacks between your meals, because more saliva is released during a proper meal, and then the food is properly washed out of the mouth and the acids don’t act as aggressively. On the other hand, snacking releases more acids into the mouth, which cause enamel damage.
Drinking plenty of water is also a great way to preserve good dental health, so make sure you stay hydrated. Here are 10 foods you should eat to have healthier teeth.
1. Dairy products
Consuming dairy products can improve your overall health, but it is particularly beneficial for bones. This is the case because dairy products contain god levels of calcium, which has been shown to improve the quality of bones, and thus teeth. Calcium is actually the most important mineral when it comes to building, strengthening and maintaining healthy teeth (and bones).
When a person has a pH level lower than 5.5, their teeth are at risk of decay and enamel damage. On the other hand, with pH levels higher than 5.5, the risks are lessened. Namely, a peer-reviewed study published in spring of 2013 in General Dentistry showed that eating dairy products can protect teeth against cavities by raising pH levels quickly after consumption. The researchers also found that several compounds found in cheese protect the tooth enamel and protect the teeth from damaging acid. They also found that cheese has better protective properties than milk and sugar-free yogurt, as it caused a quick increase in pH levels each time it was consumed.
