The adage “you are what you eat” is especially true regarding the health of your teeth and gums.

The foods and beverages you drink provide your body—and your teeth and gums—with the nutrients they need to stay healthy. Because all food and drink enter your body through your mouth, the nutrients can affect your teeth and gums first. Most notably, food and beverages can coat your teeth and gums with sugar and other carbohydrates, combining with saliva, bacteria, and food particles to create plaque.

Plaque sticks to teeth and gums. The bacteria in plaque can cause tooth decay, which eventually leads to cavities. Plaque can also irritate your gums, and bacteria can cause early-stage gum disease, known as gingivitis. Irritation can cause your gums to swell up and eventually pull away from your teeth to cause deep pockets; plaque and bacteria can enter these pockets to cause late-stage gum disease, known as periodontitis.

The bacteria in your mouth feed on the carbohydrates in your food. More specifically, cavity-causing bacteria love to feed on sugar.

Brushing and flossing can remove the sugars, bacteria, and plaque left over from your last meal. Left in place, though, the plaque can harden into tartar, which can be removed only by a dentist or dental hygienist.

Opt for Nutrient-rich Healthy Foods

Look for foods that contain nutrients known to improve dental oral health.

Vitamin C – strengthens the connective tissue in your gums; it is present in bell peppers, oranges, and strawberries.

Vitamin D – helps teeth maintain the minerals that make enamel strong and reduces inflammation and decay; it is present in egg yolks, orange juice, certain types of fish, and fortified cereals.

Vitamin A – promotes the production of saliva; eggs, cantaloupe, and sweet potatoes contain vitamin A

Calcium helps build strong teeth; low-fat milk, cheese, tofu, and seeds contain calcium.

Phosphorus – helps the body absorb calcium and strengthen teeth; eat beef, milk, lentils, and dairy products.

Antioxidants – help neutralize free radicals, which are unstable atoms that can damage teeth and gums; fruits, vegetables, berries, and dark chocolate are good sources of antioxidants

Foods to Include for Oral Health

Eating healthily might be a lot more fun than you realize! Here are a few foods that are good for your teeth and gums:

Dark chocolate – contains cocoa bean husk (CBH), which strengthens tooth enamel and fights bacteria.

Almonds – these crunchy nuts scrape away plaque when you chew them and give your body the protein and calcium it needs to build strong teeth.

Garlic – contains allicin, which fights the bacteria that cause tooth decay.

Cheese – is an excellent source of the minerals, calcium, and phosphates that help maintain strong teeth.

Leafy greens – contain calcium, vitamin A, folic acid, and vitamin C

Strawberries – contain the natural tooth whitener, malic acid

Foods to Avoid for Oral Health

You may need to reduce or eliminate some foods and beverages from your daily diet to keep your teeth and gums strong.

Sticky candies and sweets – sticky food can hold cavity-causing plaque and bacteria against the surface of your teeth

Potato chips, soft breads, and other starchy foods can get trapped between teeth.

Carbonated soft drinks – in addition to being the leading source of added cavity-causing sugar among kids and teens, carbonated soft drinks also contain phosphoric and citric acids that eat away at tooth enamel.

Medicines or other substances that dry out your mouth – saliva rinses away bacteria and plaque to decrease enamel-eroding acid, but alcohol, some medications, and other substances can dry out your mouth

Lifestyle Changes for a Healthier Smile

You can swap out some foods and make some lifestyle changes to strengthen your teeth and gums.

• Eat sugary foods with meals – your mouth produces more saliva while you eat, and this extra saliva rinses away sugar
• Snack smart – choose veggies over candy
• Drink more water to wash away bacteria and food particles
• Brush your teeth twice a day and floss once daily
• Chew sugarless gum to remove food particles without adding sugar

Consult with Your Holistic Oral Health Dentist in Jacksonville

Holistic dentists understand the strong connection between dental health and overall health. At Smiles by Shields Dentistry, our holistic dentist can provide dietary hints, tips, and suggestions to keep your smile looking and functioning at its best. We are the cosmetic dentist Jacksonville relies on for healthy smiles!