Brushing, flossing and visiting your dentist regularly are the most important steps you can take to ensuring great oral hygiene. But did you know that there are also certain foods you can eat that help too? Here’s a list of 10 foods/drinks that are great for your smile.
1. Tea
Black and green teas contain polyphenols, which slow the growth of bacteria associated with cavities and gum disease.
2. Raisins
Raisins are naturally sweet and don’t contain sucrose, or table sugar. Sugar helps harmful bacteria stick to the surface of your teeth, aiding in the production of plaque. Raisins also have phytochemicals, which can kill plaque bacteria.
3. Sugarless Gum
Chewing sugarless gum increases the secretion of saliva, which helps to clear away bacteria. Be sure the gum is sugarless though, as sugar is what helps plaque stick to your teeth.
4. Milk
Milk neutralizes some of the acid produced by plaque bacteria. Drinking milk after eating sugar may also help to protect teeth. Drinking milk with cereal unfortunately doesn’t have the same effect though, as the milk becomes sugary and harmful to your teeth.
5. Cheese
Cheese is even more effective at lowering the amount of acid in your mouth than milk.
6. Cranberries
Like tea, cranberries also contain polyphenols, which slow the growth of bacteria, thereby lowering the risk of cavities.
7. Leafy Greens
Leafy greens are high in calcium, which helps to build the enamel that protects your teeth.
8. Carrots
Carrots are full of fiber, which helps to remove food debris from your teeth.
9. Almonds
Almonds are great for your teeth, as they’re high in fiber and protein while being low in sugar.
10. Celery
Crunchy foods that contain a lot of water, such as celery, are natural abrasives, helping to scrape harmful bacteria off your teeth while you chew. When you chew these crunchy foods, your mouth also produces more saliva, which is great for washing away bacteria and food debris.
