When we talk about health and healthy food or drink, we mostly think about our major organs. We talk about food items that can reduce the risk to our heart, lungs, kidneys, or eyes. However, we hardly consider foods that are good for our teeth and can increase the average lifespan of our teeth and gums. Knowingly or unknowingly, we consume several foods that are good for our oral health but do we do it regularly? Let’s find out what benefits our oral health, especially for our teeth.

Veggies and Greens

Almost all vegetables and leafy greens are good for our overall health, however, there are a few which are directly beneficial for our oral health. Leafy greens and vegetables that contain beta carotene, calcium, and magnesium are specifically good for teeth. Calcium helps in building and protecting the jaw bone as well as the enamel of the tooth. Beta carotene helps in producing vitamin A.

Vegetables like carrot and celery, leafy greens like spinach, chard, lettuce, cabbage are rich in vitamin A, vitamin C, magnesium, and calcium. These minerals and vitamins are fundamental for our oral as well as dental health. Another vegetable is broccoli which is rich in calcium and is valuable for your oral health.

Fruits

How many times have we said or heard the say “An apple a day keeps the doctor away”? We don’t recommend you to stay away from your dentist, but surely an apple a day can make your teeth healthier. Fruits like apples and pears are not only rich in vitamins and minerals their fibrous texture cleans your teeth when you chew them. Other fruits, such as watermelon and oranges are nutritious as well as have high water content which helps in hydrating our body as well as our mouth. Hydration helps in fighting cavity building and bacteria growth in our mouth.

Dairy Products

If you aren’t lactose intolerant, we have good news for you. Dairy products such as yogurt, cheese, milk, and buttermilk have high calcium value. These products also help in producing a high volume of saliva which helps you fight against ‘dry mouth’ and plaque buildup. Yogurt and buttermilk also contain good bacteria that help in digestion and fight against acid buildup in your mouth. Non-dairy products like soy milk, almond milk, or cashew milk are also rich in calcium and protein.

Dry Fruits and Sesame Seeds

Dry fruits like nuts, almonds, cashew, and sesame seeds are rich in calcium and also are good sources of protein. These food items are also low in sugar contents (which is a major factor of bacteria and plaque buildup in your mouth) and have a significant amount of iron contents. Bean sprouts and chickpeas are also good for your dental health because of their protein and iron contents.

Drinks

Too much caffeine is not good for your dental health, especially coffee which leaves a color residue. However, green and black tea is very good for your teeth as these beverages help fight bacteria and plaque buildup in your mouth. However, we recommend having them without any sugar. If you have to acquire a sugary taste, we would recommend honey as a sweetener.

As far as the source of protein goes in our daily diet, preferring lean meat, dairy products, dry fruits, sprouts are highly recommended. So remember, anything that contains calcium, vitamin A, vitamin C, magnesium, iron, protein and is low in sugary contents is good for your dental health.