The Guide to Eating Right for the Perfect Smile

Remember the adage, ‘You are what you eat?’

When it comes to dental health, your diet is as important as your daily dental hygiene routine. If you have a bad diet, your teeth and gums will be the first to suffer. 

Here is a list of teeth-friendly foods:

• Say Yes to More Dairy Products: Dairy products are rich in calcium — the mineral which is essential for tooth and bone strength. 
• Cheese is also rich in protein, which helps also helps strengthen your tooth enamel. A recent study published in the journal of the American Academy of General Dentistry showed how cheese lowered the risk of tooth decay by raising the level of pH (acidity level) in the subject’s mouth. 

• Yoghurt is also rich in probiotics, the friendly bacteria that helps fight cavities. 
• Milk also contains Vitamin D, which also helps in boosting your immune system along with promoting bone growth and teeth strength. Milk also contains phosphorus which is vital for good teeth. 

• Say Yes to More Green Leafy Vegetables
• Universal fact: Green, leafy, vegetables are good for you. 

• Popeye endorses it, ‘I’m strong to the finich, cause I eat my spinach.’ 

• Spiderman (aka Toby Macguire) also knows the importance of vegetables in your diet.
• Greens are good for your teeth too. Other than providing you with many of the essential minerals and vitamins, they are high in fibre content. Foods high in fibre content are excellent for your oral health because they require a lot of chewing to break down the foods. This generates saliva that cleans and rinses your teeth. 

• Say Yes to Apples

• Though sugary foods are not something that the dentist recommends, apples are one of the exceptions. Apples produce saliva in your mouth, which rinses away bacteria and food particles, ranking it high on the teeth-friendly foods list. 
• The ‘Apple a day keeps the doctor away’ adage applies to keep dentists away too. 
• Say Yes to Almonds: Almonds are great for your teeth because they are rich in calcium and protein. These nuts are also low in sugar, so they don’t cause any cavities. 

• Say Yes to Green Tea: Green tea can do a lot more than help you lose those extra pounds. Green tea also contains disease-fighting antioxidants which can protect your teeth by preventing plaque. Tea also has fluoride, which prevents tooth decay and fortifies enamel. 

• Say Yes to Lean Meat: Lean cuts of meat have the necessary amount of protein to make your teeth stronger. Lean meats also contain phosphorous, which is essential in protecting enamel.

• Say Yes to Sugar-Free Gum: Sugar-free gum is excellent for dental health as it helps stimulate saliva and cleaning of teeth. 

• Say Yes to Sweet Potatoes: Sweet Potatoes are extremely high in vitamin A, which helps protect the enamel on your teeth. It also helps keep cavities at bay. 

• Say Yes to Oranges: Fruits rich in vitamin C are essential in taking care of your gums so stock up on lemonade and orange juice. 

• Keep Yourself Hydrated

• • • Drinking enough water is the first and foremost step to leading a healthy life — and water is equally essential for your oral health. 
    • Drinking water after eating sugary foods helps rinse food particles from your teeth and stop cavities from forming. 
    • Whether you are opting for tap water or bottled water, make sure that it contains fluoride, which is an essential ingredient to maintain good oral health. Since bottled water manufacturers aren’t required to list fluoride amounts on the bottles of water bottles according to the Center of Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, check with them to make sure they contain fluoride. 

Along with the right diet, don’t forget to have a proper oral hygiene routine in place for proper dental health. 

Author Bio: Dr Anu Isaac, DMD, runs a successful dental practice in Salem, MA. As the founder of Coral Dental Care, she is dedicated to creating healthy, beautiful smiles for her patients and also to educating the dental and non-dental community with her engaging articles on all things related to oral health, recent dental innovations, and latest treatment modalities.