What 5 Foods Should You Eat for a Healthy Smile?

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If you want to maintain a healthy smile, you probably know that you need to visit your dentist regularly and brush your teeth correctly at least twice per day. 

However, even if you brush and floss daily and go to your dentist every six months, it will be hard for you to have a healthy smile in the long run if you are not careful about what you eat. This is because your diet affects your overall health, including your dental health. 

Below are the best foods to take for you to keep a beautiful smile.

1. Fruits and Vegetables Rich in Fiber

Fresh fruits and vegetables such as broccoli, carrots, and apples are rich in valuable minerals. For instance, they contain keratins, calcium, and vitamin C. 

All these minerals offer immense dental benefits. 

Fiber-rich vegetables and fruits are usually crunchy, and therefore, they stimulate the mouth to produce saliva, which helps keep your mouth moist and clean.

2. Dairy

Dairy products, such as cheese, milk, and yogurt, play a big part in keeping your teeth healthy. For instance, cheese is rich in calcium, which strengthens your bones. Cheese also contains casein, which is known for fortifying the enamel. 

In addition to supplying your body with calcium, milk can balance your mouth’s pH to protect your teeth against high acidity levels. Yogurt contains probiotics that prevent cavities, bad breath, and gum disease.

3. Green and Black Tea

Black and green teas are rich in polyphenols. These chemicals act as antioxidants, which fight cell damage and help with managing inflammation, meaning that they can go a long way in helping you maintain a healthy smile. Tea can also help reduce cavity-causing bacteria in the mouth.

Remember that black tea can stain the teeth. 

4. Lean Meat

Lean meat contributes to a healthy smile in several ways. For instance, it contains arginine, an amino acid that prevents the development of plaque by breaking down the bacterial biofilm in your mouth. Lean meat is also rich in phosphorus, which can help with revitalizing the enamel when it gets eroded by acids released by bacteria. Last but not least, lean meat helps with warding off gum disease. 

This is because it contains vitamin B12, which keeps nerves and blood cells healthy.

5. Legumes

Legumes are a great source of protein, fiber, and healthy minerals. For instance, a cup of beans can contain up to 515 milligrams of calcium, meaning that taking legumes can go a long way in keeping your enamel strong.

Interested in Learning More About Oral Health?

The food you eat can go a long way in promoting or damaging your dental health. Therefore, for you to keep a healthy smile, you need to be very careful with what you eat. 

If you are looking for a reliable dentist to guide you on the right diet to improve your dental health, Dr. Afshin Salamati is an excellent choice. Contact us today at 310-275-1090 for more information about our dental practice.