It’s no secret that sugar is bad your teeth. Things like candy and soda are common culprits behind cavities, but what foods actually keep your teeth healthy? Here are five foods that you can eat confidently knowing they’re positively contributing to your oral health.
Sweet Potatoes
Sweet potatoes have vitamin A, which is important for building healthy teeth and strong bones. They also have vitamin C, which helps keep your gums healthy too. In fact, people who are deficient in vitamin C may experience bleeding in their gums.
Tip: Try having baked sweet potato as a side dish for dinner or add cubes of sweet potato to your next stir fry.
Cheese
It may seem surprising that something as delicious as cheese could actually be good for your dental health, but it’s true! Cheese contains calcium, which helps strengthen tooth enamel and provides a protective layer on your teeth. Cheese actually balances your mouth’s pH level too, which helps prevent cavities. Just don’t forget to enjoy cheese in moderation!
Tip: Eat a small amount of cheddar throughout your meal or as a light snack during the day.
Apples
Remember the phrase, “An apply a day keeps the doctor away”? Well, turns out that apples can make your dentist happy as well since they’re good for your oral health. Chewing on an apple prompts saliva production. This saliva is useful for rinsing away bacteria and food particles and for cleaning up plaque. Not only that, but apples massage, or stimulate, your gums due to their fibrous texture.
Tip: Choose an apple next time you’re looking for an afternoon snack or dice one and top your salad with it.
Onions
Onions have antibacterial properties (specifically sulfur compounds), which fight harmful bacteria that causes cavities and gum disease. They might not leave you with the most pleasant-smelling breath, but they do work wonders for killing germs!
Tip: Slice up some raw onions to add to your salad or sandwich for a nice crunch.
Leafy Greens
Have you heard that the darker the greens, the better they are for you? Leafy greens like kale and spinach are rich in nutrients including vitamin C and calcium. These promote healthy teeth and gums. At the end of the day, any type of greens will be good for you!
Tip: Blend up some leafy greens to make a healthy juice or smoothie, or you can use the leaves as an alternative to tortillas when making wraps.
