Healthy Diet For Teeth And Gums

A healthy diet gives you a healthy body and a sound mind. Intake of nutritious food is of utmost importance to maintain the normal health of your teeth and gums. Like the rest of our body, our oral system also requires a healthy dose of minerals and vitamins to function normally. Children especially need to take the right foods to ensure proper tooth development.

All dentists stress on the need of a healthy diet to maintain good oral health. For this, your daily foods should contain;

• Calcium – This is the single most important mineral for your teeth. Calcium in combination with phosphorous and vitamin D forms the backbone of your teeth and bones. Foodstuffs rich in calcium include yoghurt, milk, cheese and eggnog.
• Phosphorous – This is another important mineral that is present in egg, beef, chicken and turkey.
• Vitamin A – This is required for the development of healthy tooth enamel. Most vegetables like pumpkin, carrots, spinach, broccoli, sweet potato and fruits like mango are rich in this vitamin.
• Vitamin C – All citrus fruits, strawberries and tomatoes will give you a healthy dose of vitamin C which is required for healthy gums.
• Vitamin D – Include fish like mackerel, tuna, salmon and trout in your diet to get this vitamin.
• Fluoride – This mineral in the right amounts is highly beneficial in preventing dental caries and tooth decay, especially in the growing years. In adults, it plays an important role in restoring tooth enamel by remineralisation.

In addition to these, food stuffs that are good for your oral health include celery which stimulates the production of saliva thereby neutralizing the oral bacteria. Consumption of green tea is also beneficial in getting rid of cavity causing bacteria. The best way to protect against starchy foods is to drink plenty of water, brush your teeth twice a day and floss, which will limit the impact of starch and plaque. Try to avoid food that is unnecessarily sugary such as soft drinks and opt for sucrose substitutes in your diet and drinks