Diet and Oral Health Facts

healthy teethThe foods you eat have a direct effect on your oral health. According to the American Dental Association, you should consume a variety of nutritious foods to keep your teeth, mouth, and gums healthy.

Good choices include

  • Cheese, milk, soy products, and yogurt because they contain calcium, which helps build strong teeth and bones
  • Eggs, flounder, fortified cereal, fortified milk, salmon, and tuna because they contain Vitamin D, which helps your body better absorb calcium
  • Eggs and meats like chicken and fish because they contain phosphorus, which is needed to rebuild tooth enamel after the acids in food and sugary drinks eat it away
  • Non-citrus fruits and vegetables because they provide additional vitamins and minerals needed to rebuild, instead of eat away at, tooth enamel

Things to avoid or consume sparingly

  • Sugar in all its forms
  • No-sugar added foods (because they may contain sugar, just no added sugar) and sugarless or sugar-free foods that contain honey, fructose, or molasses
  • Acidic food eaten alone instead of with a meal (because saliva is needed to rinse plaque off teeth and it is most plentiful during a meal)
  • Soft drinks
  • Cakes, candy, chips, cookies, dried fruit, pastries, pies, sugary drinks, and empty carbohydrates (white bread, muffins, Danish, etc.)
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