Request Request Appointment Like Us Like us on Facebook Reviews Read Our Reviews Call Give us a Call Map View our Map

What Foods Are Good for My Smile?

July 16, 2013

Our patients already how important brushing, flossing, and regular checkups are. What’s less well-known is that there are certain foods that can also help you with your smile. Today, we’ll be talking about some of those foods and their benefits for oral health.

Dairy foods

Specifically, we’re talking about milk, cheese, and yogurt. All three are great sources for calcium, which helps to strengthen bones and teeth, but they also contain casein, which protects teeth from decay and cavities.

Water and tea

In each case, the benefits of these differ. Water’s primary benefit is that it keeps the mouth from becoming too dry and also helps wash away food. Why is it important for the mouth not to become too dry? Because dry mouth contributes to bad breath, and it can promote the formation of cavities. Tea, on the other hand, contains antioxidants as well as polyphenols, which help in the battle against inflammation and bacteria growth.

Fruits, veggies, and nuts

Because some veggies, like carrots and celery, take some considerable chewing, these can be beneficial for your smile, as well as your overall health. Chewing produces saliva, which has a neutralizing effect on the decay-causing acid created by bacteria. For other foods, like garlic, apples, cocoa, and nutmeg, bacteria have a harder time sticking to teeth. With fewer bacteria in the mouth, there’s less of a risk of developing cavities or gum disease.

Do you have questions about what you should be eating to help your smile? Dr. S. John Salivonchik can help. During your next visit to his Whitehall dental office, he would be happy to offer nutritional advice.

Call us today to schedule your next appointment. We’re located in Lehigh Valley and serve patients from Whitehall, Allentown, Bethlehem, Easton, The Poconos, and surrounding areas.

No Comments

No comments yet.

RSS feed for comments on this post.

Sorry, the comment form is closed at this time.