Did you know that most people didn’t even regularly brush their teeth until around the 1930s?? They relied on eating a healthy diet and using natural compounds found in plants to clean the inside of their mouths.
And that is a very good place to start!
Good Foods for Teeth
-Apples – Apples contain a high water content, so when you bite into one and start chewing it up, those pieces rub on your teeth and the water washes away the gunk and debris. They even stimulate saliva production, which helps avoid bad breath.
-Chocolate – Another win for dark chocolate! Cacao the compound CBH, which has been shown to help harden tooth enamel and prevent tooth decay. Make sure that the chocolate is at least 70% cacao!
-Fatty Fish – Fish rich in omega-3 fatty acids are full of vitamin D, which helps the body absorb calcium and phosphorous, which helps protect tooth enamel. Omega-3 fatty acids have also been shown to reduce gum disease.
-Dairy – Calcium helps prevent tooth decay and promote healthy teeth. Thanks to all the calcium contained in dairy, milk, yogurt and cheese are great foods for your teeth. Dairy, particularly cheese, contains casein, a protein that strengthens and repairs tooth enamel. But just because it is good for your teeth, doesn’t mean grab any dairy products. Opt for raw dairy…and goat products are always a good option. Make sure you are not consuming processed dairy that is full of hormones and additives.
-Celery – Crunchy foods make you chew more, producing more saliva. This keeps the tissues healthy and helps get rid of food particles in the teeth and gums and protect against cavities. Celery also has a high water content, which is good for your body all the way around! If you don’t like celery…carrots, cucumbers and other crunchy vegetables are also good options.
Worst Foods for Teeth
-Sugar – Consuming processed and fake sugar causes a whole host of damage to your entire body. We have all been warned of rotting teeth from eating too much candy. Too much sugar can cause bacterial growth, resulting in decay and infections of surrounding tissues and bone.
-Soda – These drinks are loaded with sugar and high in acidity. Both of which are nasty for your teeth. Plus, we usually sip these drinks slowly, which allows them even more time to sit in our mouths and damage our teeth.
-White Bread – As if it wasn’t already bad enough for your body, white bread wreaks havoc on your teeth, as well. After chewing, the bread’s enzymes breaks down into sugar (really bad for your dental health), and the bread sticks to the crevices of your teeth, inviting bacteria.
-Pickles – This can be a sad one. 🙁 More than any other food, pickles are highly acidic and can wear down your tooth enamel.
Acidity on Teeth?
So…by this time you should be asking yourself a question: if acidity is bad for our teeth should we even be consuming the health foods that are high in acidity? What about oranges, lemons and even the fermented foods like vinegar? Aren’t these supposed to be good for us?
You do not have to give up these foods all together, but you should be careful how you consume them. If you enjoy sipping on lemon water or an apple cider drink, try consuming them quickly so they don’t have to sit on your teeth, or use a straw to minimize contact.
Whenever you eat foods or consume drinks high in acidity, make sure to rinse with water afterwards and wait about 30 minutes before brushing your teeth.
Oil Pulling
Oil pulling is an ancient Ayurvedic remedy for oral health. Swishing a tablespoon of virgin coconut oil in your mouth for 10-20 minutes has a whole host of benefits. It can help prevent tooth decay, reduce bad breath, gum inflammation, stained teeth, dry mouth, sore throats, swelling, cavities, cracked lips and even jaw pain.