To improve your oral health, you have to brush your teeth with a plastic, electric, or bamboo toothbrush regularly. You also need to floss and use mouthwash. You can take things to the next level by avoiding foods and activities that can damage the teeth. For example, chewing ice, consuming too many sugary foods, drinking too much wine, and even overbrushing.
Another important step you can take to improve your oral health is to make some changes to your diet. You see, adding certain foods to your diet can make your teeth stronger and prevent certain oral conditions.
In this article, we are going to be looking at some healthy foods that can improve your oral health.
Improve your oral health by adding these foods and drinks to your diet
Green tea and black tea
Green tea and black tea are loaded with antioxidants and other important minerals that can improve your general and oral health. To get the most out of them, you should not add sugar or any sweetener when drinking them.
Research has shown that green and black tea can lower acidity. Even more, they can help remove plaque and reduce cavities. So if you already have an oral condition, drinking green or black tea, may help you recover quicker.
Starting your day with a cup of green or black tea is better than drinking coffee. You see, tea is rich in fluoride, which can strengthen our teeth.
Drinking more water can improve your oral health
If you are really serious about improving your dental health, then you need to drink more water. Unlike juice, sodas, and coffee which can affect our teeth negatively in some way, water is 100% safe. Water can help reduce bacteria buildup in our mouth and replenish our saliva. Drinking several glasses of water daily can help normalize your PH levels. This, thus, will reduce the bacteria activity in your mouth.
Lean meat
Lean meat is an excellent source of protein. Our body needs protein to build muscles and bones. Lean meat is rich in phosphorus, an important mineral that can promote bone remodeling and production. If you aren’t getting enough phosphorous, your oral health is going to suffer. Lack or insufficient phosphorous in the body can make your teeth prone to chipping. Note that even if your diet is rich in vitamin D and calcium, your teeth are still going to be prone to chipping if you aren’t getting enough phosphorous.
Improve your oral health by eating more Fish (Salmon)
Of course, there are many healthy fishes out there, but salmon is better than many of them as it is high in protein and low in fat. The protein in salmon can help revitalize our gum and help fix any muscle and tissue damage in any part of our body. Salmon is also rich in Vitamin D, an important nutrient that enables our body to absorb minerals like calcium which are critical to healthy bones and teeth.
Spinach contains minerals that can improve your oral health
Spinach and other dark green vegetables are rich in antioxidants and some key nutrients that our body needs. Adding spinach to your diet can also improve your dental health. Spinach is rich in iron and calcium, which can help rebuild and strengthen the enamel and prevent some oral conditions. If you don’t like spinach, you should try collard greens or kale. They are equally rich in teeth-strengthening nutrients.
Dairy products
If you aren’t lactose intolerant, you should consider adding more dairy to your diet. Everything from yogurt, and cheese to milk is rich in calcium. Research suggests that calcium from dairy products can strengthen our teeth and bones.
Final note
Improving your oral health involves a lot more than brushing your teeth and flossing regularly. As mentioned above the food we eat is also important. Sugary and highly processed food may taste great, but they aren’t good for our teeth. Foods like spinach, dairy products, lean meat, and green/black tea can help strengthen our teeth and even prevent some oral conditions. Don’t forget that drinking more water can also improve your oral health. Water can reduce acidity and replenish your saliva.