Eating for a Healthy, Beautiful Smile: Tips on Getting Started

There are always food items you can consume for better health, regardless of a particular part of the body you want to improve.

17:35 02 August 2017

Food that contains a high level of antioxidants such as apples and grapes, for example, is particularly good for the skin, your body’s metabolism, and much more.

In this article, however, we are going to take a closer look at the food items you can add to your diet in order to maintain the health and beauty of your teeth. Here are some of the tips and ideas you can try to get started.

 

Avoid Acidic Food

Citrus is a fruit that contains a lot of vitamin C, which is good for your body. It is also an easy fruit to work with since you can add citrus to a wide range of cuisines or you can simply drink it as juice. Although it is a great source of vitamin C, citrus is not a particularly good food item to consume if you want to maintain the health and beauty of your teeth.

 

Citrus is very acidic, so it can actually erode the enamel of your teeth over time. The same can be said for picked vegetables and similarly acidic food items. Consuming them occasionally is fine, as long as you brush your teeth afterward. Consuming too much of acidic food, on the other hand, can increase the rate of enamel decay by as much as 85%.

 

In the case of citrus, orange juice is your best choice. Orange is less acidic than other citrus fruits, but it contains high amounts of vitamin C and other nutrients needed by the body.

 

High Water Content

You can also add fruits that have high water content to maintain the health of your teeth. Even with acidic fruits such as tomatoes, the high water content helps dilute sugar and acid, which in turn protects your teeth against substances that can speed up the rate of decay and damage the enamel.

 

Speaking of water content, drinking water – especially fluoridated water – is a great compliment to any meal. Water helps remove excess food particles and acts as a buffer for your teeth. Water fluoridation is known to help reduce tooth decay and protect the teeth in adults and children.

 

Simply have a sip of water before you start your meal. This simple tip alone will help you minimize the risks imposed by the food you consume as part of your diet.

 

Milk and Cheese

 

If you particularly love cheese, or you enjoy drinking milk, then you are in luck. Milk, cheese, and most dairy products are very good for your teeth. They are great sources of calcium, a nutrient required by the teeth to produce hydroxyapatite and strengthen the enamel.

 

Cheese is also good for enamel repair. That is because cheese contains a nutrient called casein, a type of protein that – when combined with calcium – helps the regeneration of enamel at a faster rate. Regular consumption of cheese also helps stabilize the enamel on your teeth, providing an extra layer of protection in the process.