Foods that Can Improve Your Dental Health

At Artistic Touch Dentistry we are interested in keeping your dental health at an optimum level. We’ve recently come across research that suggests several foods may be beneficial to your dental health.

Though nothing can replace the act of brushing and flossing your teeth, there are other things you can do to support your dental health. According to researcher Dr. Christine D. Wu at the University of Illinois at Chicago these eight foods will enhance your oral health:

• Tea. Tea contains polyphenol compounds, which slow the growth of bacteria that leads to cavities and gum disease. Research shows that people who rinsed their mouths with black tea had less plaque build up than those that rinsed with water.
• Cheese. Eating cheese is said to produce lower acid levels in the mouth than eating sugar-free yogurt or drinking milk. It is believed that cheese may cause the plaque acid to neutralize.
• Raisins. Raisins don’t contain sucrose, which can be responsible for bacteria sticking to tooth surface. They also contain phytochemicals, which battle the plaque bacteria responsible for cavities. Raisins may also stunt the growth of bacteria related to gum disease.
• Crunchy foods. Foods like apples, carrots, and cucumbers may take a lot of effort to chew, however the chewing is found to be helpful in reducing plaque.
• Vitamin-rich foods: Calcium rich foods like cheese, almonds, and greens as well as phosphorous rich foods like meat, fish, and eggs can keep tooth enamel strong.
• Sugarless gum: Chewing can increase saliva production, which clears away bacteria. Sucrose will support the production of plaque so sugarless is your best option.
• Milk: Drinking milk after eating sweets can help protect your teeth and reduce acid levels.
• Cranberries: Cranberries contain the same polyphenols that tea does which keeps plaque from sticking to teeth, resulting in fewer cavities.

We are happy to share any news that may impact your overall dental health. Call us today to see how we can improve your dental care.