It’s common knowledge that in order to maintain an optimally healthy smile, strong teeth, and gums are essential. It is important that you brush twice daily, floss regularly, and maintain routine visits with your dentist.
But have you ever considered that it is equally crucial to have a healthy intake of gum and teeth-strengthening foods? There are many different groups of foods that, when consumed, have great benefits for our teeth and gums.
Some of these food groups include dairy products, leafy greens, crunchy fruits and vegetables, lean proteins, nuts and seeds, citrus fruits, and green tea. Each food group has a specific vitamin or reaction in our bodies that helps improve oral health.
What To Eat For Strong Teeth & Gums?
Products like cheese, milk, and yogurt promote stronger tooth enamel because of their calcium content. Stronger enamel on the tooth improves the chance of fighting tooth decay and erosion.
These products promote saliva production. They promote the washing away of food products and fresher breath by reducing bacteria. Dairy products also tend to have a very high/ basic PH value, resulting in the neutralization of acids that would otherwise increase the chances of bacterial growth and tooth and gum decay in the mouth.
While dairy products have many benefits, it is important to remember that when dealing with dairy products, considering their sugar content is crucial to not add excessive sugar to your teeth.
Leafy Greens
Leafy greens like spinach or kale are rich in minerals like calcium that promote strong bones and tooth enamel. These greens also benefit from high water content and therefore promote hydration which is essential for saliva production.
Along with their hydrating properties, these plants also have flavonoids and carotenoids, which are antioxidants that reduce gum inflammation.
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Crunchy Fruits & Vegetables
The fibrous and firmness of crunchy fruits and vegetables such as apples, cucumbers, celery, and carrots help to scrub away plaque while chewing them.
Like dairy products, they also aid in neutralizing the acidity that some foods add to our mouths and cleaning by stimulating our mouths to produce more saliva. That saliva also helps to reduce the number of bacteria that form in the mouth resulting in fresher breath.
Many of these crunchy fruits and vegetables are overflowing with different vitamins and minerals known to strengthen teeth and gums. One of these vitamins includes vitamin C, which is crucial to gum health through collagen production.
Lean Proteins
Lean proteins such as turkey, chicken, or fish contain proteins and amino acids essential to repairing and maintaining healthy and strong gum tissue.
The lean proteins in fish specifically are packed with omega-3s. These acids have a lot of antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties that are good for gums and protect against gum disease as well.
Keep in mind that it’s necessary to avoid over-processed meats as they could negatively affect your overall health.
While citrus fruits like oranges, lemons, limes, or grapefruits are high in acids, they are also high in vitamin C, which helps strengthen the connective tissues in your gums and blood vessels in the oral tissue.
With that being said, while these are helpful, because of the high acid content in these fruits, they should be consumed in moderation.
Nuts
Nuts such as walnuts or almonds and seeds like sesame seeds have minerals such as calcium and magnesium. These minerals can be very beneficial to teeth, gum, and enamel health. Green tea has catechins in it.
These compounds have properties about them that are antibacterial. This means that, like some of the other listed foods here, green tea can lessen the number of bacteria in your mouth and therefore works to reduce the threat of gum disease and tooth decay.
Make A Connection For Strong Teeth & Gums
A key feature of dental health is the relationship between teeth and gums. Gums, also known as gingiva, are soft tissues that surround and support teeth, forming a protective barrier against harmful bacteria.
Maintaining a stable foundation and preventing bacteria from entering the inner structures, healthy gums are essential in keeping teeth intact. In contrast, gum problems may have a major impact on tooth health.
Good gum health plays an important role in protecting tooth integrity by enabling the foundation of teeth and preventing the entry of bacteria into their structure. The roots of teeth become loose as the gums fall, increasing the risk of tooth decay, sensitivity, and possibly loss of teeth.
Maintaining good oral hygiene practices, such as toothbrushing, flossing, and professional teeth cleaning, is essential for healthy gums to protect their long-term health.
