Food and great smiles go together (in more ways than one)

Traditionally, people see good food as having a terrible effect on their teeth. After all, people brush their teeth to get rid of the food stuck in between them. Recent studies, however, show that what people eat have both negative and positive effects on their overall oral health. Incorporating foods that benefit the teeth and gums can go a long way in helping prevent long-term oral health problems.

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A healthy diet benefits the health of a person holistically, teeth and gums included. However, specific foods have been discovered to give specific positive boosts to oral health. Many of these positive effects not only include helping build healthier teeth and gums, but also prevent tooth decay and gum disease, respectively. These foods are as follows:

• Citrus fruits. The body needs vitamin C to repair connective tissue. Eating food rich in vitamin C, such as citrus fruits, can help prevent periodontal diseases such as gingivitis.

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• Crisp fruits and vegetables. Crunchy and crisp fruits and vegetables act as a detergent on teeth, stripping off bacteria from their surfaces. In addition, they also require a lot of chewing, which stimulates saliva production and helps lower the amount of bacteria in the mouth.

• Tea. Despite the staining that tea is known to do, compounds in tea have been known to suppress the growth of cavity-causing bacteria.

Certain foods, such as gummy and hard candies and soda, remain high on the dentists’ list of things to avoid. Moreover, even food that benefits teeth contain sugars, and brushing, flossing, and biannual dental checkups remain important aspects of oral health.

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Those who want a healthy and aesthetically appealing smile can seek the services of dental clinics like California Smile Design to help keep their teeth healthy and beautiful. More information is available on this website.