Do you want to flash a lovely smile for life? Don’t just focus on keeping your pearly whites healthy. It’s also important to ensure the health of your gums which surround and support your every tooth.
Everyone knows that regular trips to the dentist and practicing superb oral hygiene are necessary for mouth that’s in the pink of health. The diet also plays a major role in keeping your teeth and gums all in tip-top shape. The following are some of the foods you should include in your diet to obtain and maintain the most eye-catching smile:
Yogurt
It’s no secret that one of the healthiest snacks on the planet is yogurt. Opting for the plain and unflavored kind is particularly good for your smile because it contains no sugar that bacteria loves to feed on. Billions of friendly bacteria in every serving of yogurt may help reduce your chances of having periodontal disease, so say some dental experts.
Green Tea
Thanks to polyphenols in green tea, enjoying the beverage allows you to have healthy teeth and gums. Polyphenols, according to researches, are capable of killing off bacteria and neutralizing toxins in the mouth. Green tea also contains the mineral fluoride, something that is known to help strengthen your pearly whites.
Pickles, Tomatoes and Spinach
Just like green tea, all of these foods are naturally rich in fluoride. It cannot be denied that fluoride helps make your choppers strong — all you have to do is check the list of ingredients of so many toothpastes and mouthwashes. Other than pickles, tomatoes and spinach, other good sources of fluoride include carrots, oranges, asparagus, beets and raisins.
Cheese and Dark Leafy Greens
Aside from fluoride, there’s another mineral that helps make your teeth really strong: calcium. Dairy products such as cheese, milk and yogurt are wonderful sources of calcium. Kale, spinach and collard greens are examples of dark green leafy vegetables packed with the mineral. Fortified cereals and enriched grains should be on your shopping list too.
Nuts and Seeds
Munching on nuts and seeds is a great way to give your mouth a workout. They are also loaded with minerals such as zinc, potassium, magnesium and phosphorous necessary for stronger teeth. By the way, nuts and seeds also contain calcium! The top sources of the said mineral include Brazil nuts, almonds and sesame seeds.
Berries and Kiwis
Since vitamin C helps prevent the breaking down of collagen in soft tissues, this nutrient is an excellent protector of your gums. Loads of vitamin C can be found in berries and kiwis, so you should include these delectable fruits in your diet. Their mild acidity also helps in the gentle removal of tooth stains, allowing you to enjoy a brighter smile.
Onions
Raw onions in particular are very good at keeping your mouth bacteria-free due to the sulfuric compounds in them. Make sure that your salads and sandwiches have good servings of onions. If you cannot tolerate eating them raw, cooking them beforehand is fine although you can expect for their antimicrobial properties to weaken a bit.
Apples and Celery
Crunchy fruits and vegetables pack a lot of water and fiber. That is why munching on them can help in keeping your mouth clean and bacteria-free. Apples, pears, celery, cucumber and many others wash off bacteria through their water content as well as ability to stimulate saliva production. These fiber-rich foods also provide some scrubbing action.
Ginger
The anti-inflammatory properties of ginger can help in dealing with swollen gums usually brought about by problems such as gingivitis and scurvy. Ginger has powerful antimicrobial properties, too, that help zap bacteria in your mouth that may cause bad breath and plaque. Add lots of ginger to your food or drink ginger tea instead of coffee.
