The Best & Worst Foods For Your Teeth

March 6, 2020

How’s your diet? Do you eat a lot of sugary foods? Drink a lot of soda?

If this sounds like you, maybe it’s time for a change!

Sugars, found in nearly everything these days, can cause MASSIVE damage to your teeth. From cavities to cracks, chips to infections, too much sugar can wreak havoc on your mouth. Don’t worry, though! It’s not too late to adjust your habits!

Throughout this article, we’ll take a look at some tried-and-tested nutrition tips to keep your teeth healthy, clean and strong.

How to Keep your teeth healthy with nutrition

Sugars

You don’t have to be a dentist to know that sugar isn’t always a good thing!

I see it too often:

People come in with:

  • Chips
  • Cracks
  • Cavities
  • Exposed nerves

Yet they also consume no end of sugary products! All of these conditions can lead to costly repairs – AND they can be extremely painful.

Sugar is one of the leading causes for tooth decay.

Do you know why?

Well, the bacteria that lives in your mouth (the good kind) will produce harmful acids using excess sugar. These acids will damage the surface of your tooth, slowly working away the enamel and exposing your teeth and gums to decay! The more sugar you consume, the more damage you could cause to your teeth. Sure, sugar is in everything, but some products contain significantly more than others. Let’s look at one of the worst offenders…

Sodas

That’s right. Soda.

It seems that sodas are everywhere: schools, hospitals, work… and it’s because they taste great!

The thing is: soda should be a treat.

Too many people drink one (or more!) sodas a day – these can cause lasting damage to your teeth that can be difficult to fix. It’s always helpful to consider the sugar content in any drink before you consume it – so please be careful!

Sugary Foods

Let’s take a look at a few other extremely sugary foods (and a few other drinks) that you should make an effort to avoid if you want shiny, perfect pearly whites:

  • Sauces (especially BBQ sauce and ketchup)
  • Sweets
  • Chocolate
  • Fruity drinks
  • Alcohol
  • Granola
  • Flavoured coffee (which can also stain your teeth)
  • White bread, sugar (obviously) and pasta

It’s strongly recommended to do your own research, too! As a rule of thumb, you should also try to avoid food that can stain your teeth.

Here’s just a few:

  • Red wine
  • Coffee
  • Tea
  • Tomatoes
  • Curry
  • Cola
  • Cigarettes

The good news is that there are plenty of foods that promote healthy teeth, too!

Vitamin C

Vitamin C is one of the best things you can do for your teeth! As a powerful antioxidant, vitamin C really enforces strong and healthy tooth development. Not enough people regularly consume the recommended amount!

Vitamin C can be found in abundance in the following foods:

  • Citrus fruits such as lemons and oranges
  • Broccoli
  • Cauliflower
  • Brussel Sprouts (sorry kids)

Calcium

Remember those ads? Milk makes your bones grow big and strong? Did you know your teeth are technically bones?

Well – the same rules apply!

Calcium is absolutely fantastic when it comes to building strength in your teeth and jaw. As well as reinforcing the teeth, it will strengthen your jaw bone, keeping those chompers firmly in place.

Calcium can be found naturally in:

  • Milk
  • Yoghurt
  • Cheese
  • Nuts
  • Soya

The thing is, to really be effective, calcium needs a healthy amount of phosphorus.

Phosphorous

Don’t be put off by the sciency name!

Phosphorous, just like calcium, is a mineral that can be found in your bones. It helps your teeth to form and grow, too!

To encourage healthy tooth growth and structure, you should try to eat a variety of phosphorous rich foods, such as:

  • Beans
  • Fish
  • Lentils
  • Nuts
  • Red Meat
  • Milk

Next Steps

If you’re worried that your diet might be causing damage to your teeth, or if it’s just time for a checkup, you should get in touch.

You can easily book an appointment by giving us a call on (813) 333-1922.

If you prefer to do things online, why not send us an email? You can reach us on info@tampapalmsdentistry.com.

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