The Best and Worst Foods for Teeth
Knowing the best and worst foods for teeth helps you make more accurate food choices and reduces the risk of tooth damage.
Maintaining oral hygiene and brushing teeth are essential for a beautiful smile. Have you ever considered the impact of nutrition on dental health?
This article reviews the best and worst foods for teeth so that you can make more informed choices and help keep your teeth healthy.
Also, if you have any questions about dietary care for your teeth, Dr. Ghayoumi’s dental clinic is ready to provide you with the necessary information.
What is Harmful to Teeth?
Recognizing foods that are bad for teeth is essential in reducing tooth decay and preventing various types of damage to teeth. Some foods that are harmful to your teeth include:
1- Simple Carbohydrates
Refined carbohydrates like potato chips and white bread are some of the worst foods for your teeth.
Consuming processed foods like chips, which tend to get stuck between your teeth and cause plaque to build up, increases your risk of tooth decay.
To prevent this, brush your teeth after eating them. It’s also a good idea to replace simple carbohydrates with healthier options like 100% whole wheat bread, mashed potatoes, and oatmeal.
2- Foods High in Sugar
A review of the best and worst foods for your teeth shows that sugary products are one of the worst foods for your teeth. These foods contribute to plaque, which can lead to tooth decay.
In addition to harming your overall health, candy, cookies, and crackers feed bacteria in your mouth on the sugar they contain, which can destroy tooth enamel by producing acid.
3- Acidic Fruits
Citrus fruits like lemons, oranges, and grapefruit contain high amounts of acid and sugar, which can erode tooth enamel.
Although these fruits have many health benefits, eating them in moderation and as part of a meal to reduce acid production in your mouth is best.
4- Chewing Ice
You may think eating ice is harmless because it is only made of water, but this is entirely wrong.
Chewing ice can cause sensitivity or even tooth breakage by creating tiny cracks in your tooth enamel, which may require restorative treatments like crowns or fillings.
5- Pickles
Pickled foods are also harmful to teeth. Due to their vinegar and acidic nature, pickles damage tooth enamel. Note that vinegar is more capable of eating tooth enamel than other foods.
If you cannot eliminate pickles from your diet, it is better to rinse your mouth with water after consumption.
6- Black Tea and Coffee
Excessive coffee and strong tea consumption can create an inappropriate appearance and brown stains on teeth.
They also cause food particles and bacteria to stick, ultimately damaging tooth enamel.
7- Carbonated Drinks
Carbonated drinks are known to erode tooth enamel. The ingredients in these drinks, including sugar, carbon, and strong acids such as citric and phosphoric acid, have destructive effects on the structure of the teeth.
Frequent consumption of carbonated drinks will lead to tooth enamel erosion and cause more serious problems in the mouth.
What is Good for Teeth?
The best and worst foods for teeth depend primarily on the amount and method of consumption. However, some foods are not only not harmful to teeth but also have many benefits for the body.
Some foods that are good for teeth and gums include:
1- Crispy Vegetables
Vegetables such as spinach, broccoli, squash, and mushrooms are good for dental health due to their various vitamins and minerals.
Celery and carrots also help protect teeth by increasing saliva production, which has anti-caries properties.
In addition to stimulating saliva production, chewing celery mechanically massages the gums, and a small amount of cabbage helps harden tooth enamel.
2- Calcium-rich Foods
Milk, cheese, and yogurt are considered suitable for teeth. They are low in carbohydrates and rich in calcium and phosphate, the best options for maintaining oral health.
By regulating the pH of the mouth, these products prevent tooth enamel from being destroyed by acids resulting from the breakdown of food and help rebuild and protect tooth enamel.
| The 2015-2020 Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommend 700 mg of calcium per day as the recommended dietary allowance (RDA) for children aged 1-3 years, and 1000 mg of calcium per day for children aged 4-8 years. |
3- Lean Protein
Lean proteins such as chicken, fish, and eggs are good for teeth because they are rich in phosphorus, vital in rebuilding tooth enamel. Due to their low sugar content, these foods protect teeth from decay.
4- Xylitol-containing Gums
Xylitol gum is a healthier option than sugar-containing gums for maintaining oral health.
This type of gum uses xylitol instead of glucose, which directly inhibits the activity of Streptococcus mutans bacteria.
By breaking down glucose, these bacteria produce acid, the leading cause of tooth decay.
5- Onion
Raw onion, with its sulfur compounds and strong antibacterial properties, eliminates harmful bacteria in the mouth and helps maintain healthy teeth and gums. To prevent bad breath, consuming onion with parsley or mint is better.
6- Nuts
One of the best and worst foods for teeth is nuts. Due to their minerals and calcium content, nuts help strengthen tooth enamel.
Almonds have many benefits for teeth, mainly because they contain vitamin D and calcium, essential for tooth strength and gum health.
However, you should avoid breaking nuts such as walnuts, pistachios, and hazelnuts with your teeth, as this can damage the jawbone.
7-Green Tea
Due to its high polyphenol content, green tea inhibits the activity of oral microbes by reducing the formation of dental plaque. Research has shown that green tea contains small amounts of fluoride, which helps strengthen teeth’s structure.
8-Fiber-Containing Foods
Foods containing fiber are considered among the best for dental health. Fiber helps clean the surface of teeth and reduce plaque buildup by increasing saliva production and preventing the growth of harmful bacteria.
Fiber foods include nuts, whole grains, vegetables, fruits, and beans.
9- Fruits that are good for teeth
Strawberries, with their fiber, minerals, and various vitamins, especially malic acid, can be a natural abrasive for whitening teeth.
Apples are essential in maintaining oral and dental health due to their riboflavin, vitamins C and A, and minerals such as iron and calcium.
With vitamins C and K and minerals such as copper, pear Juice helps protect teeth and gums by neutralizing acids in the mouth and preventing free radical damage.
The role of water and hydration in oral and dental health
Water is known as one of the vital factors in maintaining dental health.
This element effectively prevents tooth decay by washing the mouth of bacteria and food residue and stimulating saliva production.
Conclusion
Knowing the best and worst foods helps you make informed choices about foods that help protect your teeth.
Consuming foods rich in calcium, phosphorus, vitamin D, antioxidants, and antibacterial compounds, such as green tea and fresh fruits, helps maintain healthy teeth and prevent oral diseases.
Consuming simple sugars, acidic drinks, and processed foods can damage tooth enamel and accelerate tooth decay.
FAQ
- What vitamins are good for dental development?
The most important vitamins are vitamin D, calcium, potassium, and phosphorus. They are suitable for tooth growth and tooth strengthening, especially for adults.
Dairy products are rich in calcium and vitamin D; fruits and vegetables such as cucumbers, spinach, kale, beets, and pomegranates are high in potassium.
Fish, sunflower seeds, pumpkins, and grains are abundant in phosphorus.
- What is the best calcium for teeth?
Calcium-rich foods such as low-fat milk and plain yogurt are the best sources of calcium for teeth.
In addition to these foods, salmon and leafy green vegetables such as broccoli can provide much calcium for your body and teeth.
- What are the best drinks for your teeth?
Milk, water, natural alkaline juices, and green tea (not black tea) are the best drinks for teeth. These drinks help wash away food residue from teeth, preventing staining.
Source:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK534248/
https://www.ada.org/resources/ada-library/oral-health-topics/nutrition-and-oral-health
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