Foods for healthy teeth

Along with brushing and flossing, your nutrition can play a big role in the health of your mouth. A balanced diet that’s full of variety will help increase your overall health as well as the health of your teeth and gums. Here are a few key things to look out for that can help support your healthy smile:

•Calcium for strong teeth and bones - Rich sources include milk, yogurt, cheese, almonds, dark green leafy vegetables, and tofu.

•Phosphorous for strong teeth - It can be found in eggs, fish, lean meats, dairy, beans, and nuts.

•Vitamin C for healthy gums - Tomatoes, citrus fruits, broccoli, spinach, peppers, and potatoes are all great sources of this vitamin.

•Snacking - Keep in mind that every time you eat, you are bringing on acids to your teeth so you want to minimize the severity as much as you can when it happens. Choosing healthy snacks like fruit, yogurt, raw veggies, or popcorn over sugary snacks will help keep your teeth and whole body in better shape.

•Sticky/Chewy Candy - The stickier a candy is, the worse it is on your teeth. Extra chewy or sticky candy like taffy or caramels will hang around on and in between your teeth for long periods of time after you’re done eating them. This gives bacteria plenty of time to turn those sugars into acids that can harm tooth enamel and cause cavities.

•Sour Candy - Candy that is both chewy and highly acid, such as extra sour candy, is a double-whammy on your teeth. Sour candy is high in citric acid, which delivers its own blast of harm on your teeth in combination with the sticky sugars left behind.

•Soda - If you need another reason to stop drinking sodas, think of your teeth. They take enough hits throughout the day from eating, the last thing you want to do is increase the time they’re exposed to acid and sugar even more. Drinking soda throughout the day keeps your teeth constantly bathed in sugar that can have harmful effects.