Superfoods for Stronger Teeth and Gums That Your Dentist Isn’t Telling You About

UncategorizedMay 20, 2020

Raise your hand if dentist appointments are your worst nightmare. There’s nothing scarier than the drilling sound in your ear as the doctor chips away at the decayed tooth while you’re lying on the table helplessly, thinking where you went wrong with your oral hygiene.

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Brushing twice a day will only get you so far if your diet isn’t healthy. When it comes to keeping your pearly whites, there are certain foods you should avoid, and foods you should be eating more of.

Want to know more? Let’s start from the beginning and find out why diet plays such an important role in our oral health.

Foods You Must Avoid

Brushing, flossing, gargling with mouthwash are all great dental hygiene practices but too much of a good thing can be bad for you. Take mouthwash, for example, which helps reduce plaque, but also ends up killing the good bacteria in your mouth.

These probiotic bacteria are our body’s natural defense against dental diseases and must be replenished with a good diet rich in nutrients and probiotics.

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Bleeding gums, pain in wisdom teeth, and the need to wear braces are all signs that your diet lacks the nutrients needed to ensure healthy jaw growth. When jaws don’t grow properly, teeth can become crooked and our wisdom teeth don’t fit the way they naturally should.

The culprit might be processed foods like pasta, rice, and bread, which aren’t really sweet but act like sugar once they’re consumed. If you’re not able to cut these foods out of your diet completely, try to limit their consumption or replace them with healthier alternatives like whole-wheat pasta, brown rice, and whole-grain bread.

Foods You Should Eat More Of

Instead of sugary, high-carb foods, dentists advise adding more leafy greens and probiotics to your diet. Natural yogurt, kimchi, and sauerkraut are loaded with good bacteria whereas avocados are rich in prebiotic fiber, which is fantastic for the microbiome in your gut and your mouth. Experts also recommend increasing your calcium intake by eating more nuts and dark leafy greens.

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A good diet alone is not enough for healthy gums and teeth. Brushing twice a day with a soft toothbrush is key for maintaining a bright smile. However, it’s important to wait at least 30 minutes after eating to brush your teeth because acidic foods can temporarily weaken your gums and tooth enamel.