Prevention at the table is also helpful for the health of our teeth. The excellent state of the mouth is a critical issue. From an early age, our parents tried to make us understand the importance of dental hygiene and attempted to limit the intake of sugars, which, as we know, are harmful to the teeth. There are, however, some foods that help reduce oral diseases. Let’s see specifically.
But What Is Tooth Decay?
Caries are an infection caused by tiny organisms that live in the mouth. Their proliferation is favored by poor hygiene and chewing of “dangerous” foods. These bacteria live in colonies outside the teeth and form bacterial plaque that feeds on food residues that remain in the spaces between the teeth. Caries bacteria essentially feed on sugars transformed into lactic acid, which damages tooth enamel and causes tooth decay. The more sugars your teeth chew, the higher the risk of suffering from tooth decay. And at this point, only the expert hands of a dentist can save us.
Nutrition And Tooth Decay
Dentists agree on linking tooth decay to certain foods. Therefore, they never stop recommending a correct diet that does not include the consumption of sugars, seen as the greatest danger to the health of our teeth. The dietary rules to be respected are straightforward but essential. The first to be indicted as the most cariogenic foods are sucrose, glucose, and industrial derivatives.
Especially the first, sucrose, is not found only in sweets but also in soft drinks, pastries, and cereals. Caramel is very dangerous because sticking to the teeth, it stays on them for a long time, exposing them to the attack of bacteria. The habit of sucking on candies and chocolates should also be avoided. A life without dessert cannot exist, especially for those with a sweet tooth. Nature offers us non-dangerous sugars; however, industrial sugars are not too sweet. To name a few: fructose, sugar alcohols that ward off diabetes, and the risk of obesity.
A sweetener that helps oral hygiene is xylitol which has an antibacterial function and prevents tooth decay. It is hardly necessary to remember that oral hygiene plays a fundamental role in the health of our teeth.
Immediately after chewing on sugars, you should brush your teeth; if this is not possible, chewing gum can help a lot because it cleans the teeth thanks to the action of fluoride and saliva that is created in the oral cavity.
Substances That Promote Dental Health
Some foods contain essential substances for the hygiene of our mouth; these are calcium, phosphorus, fluorine, and vitamin D.
Calcium prevents both teeth and mouth diseases; for its action to have visible results, it must be taken equal to 1,200 mg per day. Dairy products, yogurt, and cheese are rich in calcium, especially useful for growing children. Leafy vegetables such as broccoli and Chinese cabbage, canned fish, walnuts, dried beans, and almonds also contain calcium.
Fluoride is found in tomatoes, lentils, cherries, broccoli, chicken, tea, and potatoes. Your gums will thank you if you consistently take vitamin C in fruits and vegetables such as lettuce, tomatoes, green peppers, and citrus fruits. Another essential substance for the health of our smile is vitamin D which helps our body absorb calcium and phosphorus. It is contained in margarine, eggs, milk, and fish liver.
Essential Foods For Preventing Dental Diseases
To avoid reaching our favorite dental office too many times a year, we can try to prevent both through a thorough dental cleaning and, as we have amply explained, nutrition plays a fundamental role in dental care. Nature offers us foods that help remineralize the teeth: these are dried fruit and pumpkin, flax, and sesame seeds.
Also important is the saliva, which wipes out the bacteria and creates the mineral defenses that counteract the loss of teeth. Fiber-rich foods favor saliva production: dried fruit, dates, raisins, figs, bananas, apples, oranges, vegetables, peanuts, and bran. The gums need whole grains containing iron, vitamin B, and magnesium, which are necessary for bones and teeth. Greenlight, therefore, to wholemeal rice and pasta and cereal flakes.
Other essential foods for the health of our smile are apples because they contain a lot of water and fiber; the water serves to increase the production of saliva, which helps keep the mouth clean. Carrots, celery, and cucumbers are beneficial for the teeth and should be eaten raw. As these vegetables are crunchy, they clean the spaces between the teeth and promote the elimination of bacteria present in the oral cavity. Green tea contains catechins, a substance that fights inflammation and bacterial infections. Healthy for gums and teeth are Shiitake mushrooms because they contain lentinan, which has anti-cancer properties. As is well known, sugars damage teeth, exposing them to tooth decay. We should brush our teeth right away to limit the damage whenever we chew a sweet snack.
Raisins, rich in natural sugars, can replace the candies; if eaten raw, onions have an antibacterial function that helps keep the mouth disinfected. Finally, strawberries, rich in vitamin C, have astringent properties and favor the elimination of unsightly stains on the teeth, making them whiter.
Also Read: Natural Ways To Care For Your Teeth