The world is full of these incredible deliciously mouthwatering foods, don’t you agree? Some are good for your mouth and some are terrible for oral hygiene. Let’s have a closer look at what makes your teeth happy and what makes them snappy.
GOOD FOODS!
Foods good for your mouth help prevent tooth decay and work towards destroying plaque buildup.
- Dairy Products
Milk and other dairy products contain calcium and phosphates. Consumption of dairy products makes teeth stronger. Cheese is a saliva maker as well, which is important because saliva helps reduce the effect of acids and harmful enzymes. - Fruits and Vegetables
Fruits and vegetables that are rich in fiber are also good for the mouth. They get saliva flowing and act as a detergent in the mouth, cleaning out unwanted bacteria. They are the best home remedy for prevention of tooth decay and cavities. - Sugarless Chewing Gum
Gum is a saliva maker and helps remove leftover food particles in the mouth. The lack of sugar in the gum is simply an added advantage for prevention of cavities. Also the chewing action helps develop facial muscles. This creates a good jaw line and tones the face helping get rid of double chins. Lots of actors use this trick to enhance their facial features. However, one must practice caution as too much gum is not the healthiest option. - Tea
Green tea and black tea contain polyphenols, which are an organic chemical and considered as micronutrients in our diet. These destroy plaque and bacteria, and hence are an asset in the mouth. However, watch the quantity, as too much tea could stain your teeth too. - Fluoride Foods
Any kind of food with fluoride helps your teeth. Dehydrated soups, powdered juices, powdered cereals, commercially prepared poultry products and even sea food - all contain fluoride.
BAD FOODS!
Foods bad for the teeth are easy to spot as they encourage tooth decay and plaque buildup.
- Carbonated Drinks
Other than the obvious high sugar content carbonated drinks contain phosphoric and citric acid both of which wear down tooth enamel. - Dry Mouth Foods
Alcohol dries out the mouth which means there is less saliva and hence a weaker fight against bacteria. Some medicines dry the mouth too. A fluoride rinse for your mouth will help. - Starch
Foods that have high starch composition like tapioca,potato chips or soft breads are to be avoided as they get lodged between the tiny gaps in teeth and are hard to take out. - Sweets
When opting for sweets, go for those that don’t stick to your teeth and are easy to wash off. You can opt for cacao, which has proven to have some health benefits.
Choosing the right kinds of food is important as it helps promote oral health. You should choose food that encourage production of saliva, as saliva keeps the teeth moist. So be careful what you eat, because everything you put in your mouth has numerous consequences. Each time you are up in the middle of the night and find yourself starving be mindful and choose the food that offers you a health benefit.