Hippocrates is often attributed to the famous statement “Let Food be thy Medicine and Medicine be thy Food”, but more likely as discovered in recent translations it is more the importance of a balanced diet and exercise, most often simply walking, that the great philosopher was suggesting for a healthy body and mind.
Let’s take a look at diet and specific foods that positively impact a healthy smile.
Best Foods for Your Smile
Cheese, Milk & Yogurt
Cheese is a great food for your oral health because it’s low in sugar and high in calcium and contains the protein casein that fortifies tooth enamel. The pH balance levels are also maintained due to the phosphate content of the cheese. After fluoridated water, milk is the next best. Milk is rich in calcium and lowers the acidity of your mouth. Yogurt, also rich in calcium with probiotics to protect against cavities, promote gum health and even helps with bad breath.
Celery, Carrots and Leafy Green Veggies
Crunchy, hard, firm vegetables are great for cleaning the outer surface of your teeth. They require a lot of chewing and stimulate the flow of salvia which removes debris and packed full of important vitamins and minerals. Celery is natures dental floss and carrots full of calcium and keratins are a natural toothbrush.
Leafy Greens
Dark, leafy greens are a great source of calcium, vitamins and minerals plus folic acid for you gums and teeth.
Apples and Pears
Apples are hard fibrous fruits that can help clean your teeth. Apples may not keep the dentist away, but it will certainly help by neutralizing both citric acid and malic acid. Pears unlike many acidic fruits are also beneficial at neutralizing in your mouth that contribute to tooth decay.
Nuts
Nuts offer many health benefits and contain wonderful amounts of calcium and phosphorus. Almonds, Brazil nuts and cashews fight bacteria that leads to tooth decay. Walnuts contain everything from fiber to folic acid, iron, thiamine, magnesium, niacin, vitamin E & B6, zinc, potassium…WOW!
Meats and Fatty Fish
Meats offer important nutrients and increases salvia production when chewing. Salvia washes away particles and decreases the acidity in your mouth. Fatty fish(salmon) is packed full of phosphorus, an important element in protection of tooth enamel.
Berries, Teas & Coffees
Polyphenols are rich in antioxidants which help with reducing inflammation and cell damage that may help in fighting cancer.
You are what you eat! Selecting a balanced, nutritious diet of fruits, veggies, lean proteins and calcium enriched foods promotes not only a healthy body but also a beautiful winning smile. Call Plainsboro Dental Care to schedule for all your dental needs at 609-799-4422.