Oral hygiene is a vital basic routine that should be followed to prevent infections that cause bad breath amongst other problems like gingivitis, periodontitis, dental carries among others.
As a young child, your parent, siblings, and teachers may have taught you about what it takes to have healthy teeth; brush your teeth twice a day, avoid eating sweet things, visit your dentist at least twice every year for a checkup, among other things. However, today I will reveal some amazing foods that you may be surprised to know, are great for your teeth that no one has told you about. Interestingly, some of these foods are classified as ‘condemned’ for being ‘bad’ for your dental health.
Well, this article brings to you some of the foods that are surprisingly amazing for your teeth.
Top 10 Foods That Are Good For Your Teeth
1. Chewing Gum
The secret to safely using chewing gum for the good of your dental health is going for the sugar-free one. Chewing gum hastens saliva production in your mouth. The saliva aids in rinsing harmful acids more efficiently. Besides, chewing gum gives you a better breath smell. So, next time you want to rinse off harmful acids and boost the smell of your breath, reach out for some sugar-free chewing gum.
2. Carrots
Carrots are well known as a source of Vitamin A, which aids in good vision. But this vegetable is not only good for your eyes, but for your teeth too. Chewing a raw carrot is actually like using a natural toothbrush. Besides, as you chew, you massage your gum even as you get some keratin and vitamin A, which strengthens your teeth enamel. Carrot is a wonderful snack for in between meals, for the benefit of your teeth.
3. Garlic
While garlic is known for causing bad breath, it is not all bad. It is actually a natural antibiotic and is therefore great for killing bad bacteria in your mouth. To keep your oral bacteria in check, add garlic to your salads or stir-fries. Garlic is rich in allicin, a compound that hinders activity of many types of bacteria that can pose a threat to your oral health.
4. Green Tea
Well known for being an antioxidant and improving metabolism, green tea helps in keeping your teeth strong and healthy. Green tea is rich in antibacterial properties, thus reduces bad bacteria from your mouth.
5. Turmeric
For many decades, turmeric has been used in India as a spice. Usually, turmeric is added to foods and curries to improve colour and taste. Turmeric’s main active component is curcumin, thus its antimicrobial activity in combating gingival inflammation. The health benefits of turmeric are still many.
6. Cheese
Cheese is very rich in calcium and phosphate, which strengthen your bones and teeth. Besides, cheese assists in balancing the Ph levels in your mouth. This enhances, decrease in harmful acid. Also, cheese increases saliva and therefore decreases the possibility of cavities.
7. Sugarcane
Well, sometime, you may find it a hard task to have to chew on that piece of sugarcane. Other times, the fact that you have to throw away the waste even makes it harder. However, that moment you are taking a break at your garden or elsewhere, grab a piece of sugarcane. Chewing sugarcane will be a natural way of brushing your teeth as well as exercising your jaws while firming the gum. Besides, chewing sugarcane enhances saliva production, which helps in rinsing bad bacteria from your mouth.
8. Sesame Seeds
Sesame seeds are rich in calcium. Thus they will enhance your teeth’s strength. By chewing them, you will be helping in scrubbing plaque from your teeth. You can choose to chew them independently or have them baked in bread. Either way, you will reap their benefits, especially to your teeth. However, after chewing sesame seeds, ensure you remove any that may get stuck in between your teeth.
9. Apples
An apple a day keeps the doctor away, right? Owing to their high acid content, apples are often mistaken as bad for your teeth. However, these fruits are rich in natural sugars which assist in neutralizing harmful acids that may be in the mouth. Besides, chewing apples activates saliva production, thus, aiding in rinsing bad bacteria from your mouth. Further, they help in firming gum and keeping it healthy as they are packed with vitamins. So, next time you grab an apple, know you are not only keeping a general doctor away, but a dentist too will be at bay.
10. Oranges
Oranges are packed with vitamin C which is vital in the production of collagen a protein that aids you in fighting the periodontal disease. If you lack vitamin C, your gum may become increasingly sensitive, and therefore you will stand more chances of being affected by bacteria that cause the periodontal disease. Besides, Vitamin C reduces inflammation thus making your gum less susceptible to inflammation and strengthens blood vessels.
Dental health should never be ignored. Besides going for professional dental cleaning, scaling and plaque removal and treating periodontal diseases amongst other services, it is recommended that you avoid the use of excessive alcohol and tobacco and always strive to observe oral hygiene for that healthy smile.
