5 foods that are good for your teeth

Taking care of your teeth may be easier than you think! You can support your overall health and help to prevent tooth decay by consuming foods that are good for your teeth.

Yes, you may have a sweet tooth and you may like to overindulge in your favourite snack every now and again. However, it is important to keep everything in moderation and remember to maintain your oral hygiene through brushing and flossing each day.

If you have been overindulging in snacks lately or would like to know some healthy foods that are good for your health, our team has outlined 5 foods that are good for your teeth and, habits that support your oral health.

Fibre rich fruits

Foods rich with fibre like fruits help to keep your teeth and gums clean. These fruits include:

Apples
Bananas
Strawberries
Raspberries
Mangos

They also help with saliva production. Research states that your saliva helps to clear and neutralize acid attacks on the surface of your teeth. These acids may be left behind from sugary foods and drinks which can damage your enamel.

We do have to be a little mindful of over-snacking on fruits as they do still contain sugars, but the natural sugars balanced with the fibre makes them a much better snack for your oral health compared with refined and processed sugary snacks.

Vegetables

Vegetables are also a great source of food to support your teeth. Like fruit, vegetables such as celery and carrots help to clean the bacteria and plaque from your teeth while you chew.

Leafy vegetables like kale, spinach, cabbage and bok choy are also amazing providers of special nutrients like folate, zinc, calcium, iron, magnesium, vitamin C and fibre.

It is recommended to have at least 5 serves of vegetables per day. A few suggestions you may want to include in your daily intake are:

Corn
Peas
Broccoli
Carrots
Tomatoes
Sweet potato

Nuts

Nuts are full of health benefits for your teeth, especially almonds as they are packed with calcium and phosphorus! Calcium and phosphorus help to keep your bones and teeth healthy and strong due to their natural properties and role in mineralising teeth.

Brazil nuts, cashews and peanuts may also be a good option too as they are a great source of protein, vitamin D, fibre, and unsaturated fats.

Fish

Fish like salmon are packed with phosphorus, an important mineral for protecting your tooth enamel.

They are also a great source of omega-3 fatty acids and vitamin D. Furthermore, fish are also known to aid our brain function, to lower cholesterol and the risk of heart disease.

Dairy Products

Dairy products support the balance of minerals in your saliva and assist you to grow strong, healthy bones. This is because product such as cheese, plain yogurt, and milk contain high amounts of calcium which helps to provide minerals to your teeth which might have been lost due to consuming other unhealthy foods.

Dairy products also help to rebuild your tooth enamel.