How to Snack Your Way to a Healthier Smile

It’s common knowledge that eating too many cookies and candies will give you plenty of cavities. However, cutting back on sugary treats isn’t the only way to change your diet to improve your smile. In fact, you can boost your oral health simply by replacing those unhealthy foods with a few smile-friendly ones! Find out from your Midland dentist how you can keep your pearly whites happy, healthy, and intact with what you eat.

Prevent Cavities with High-Fiber Vegetables

Vegetables are brimming with a garden variety of nutrients that benefit your whole body. If you’re looking for the best ones for your teeth, try raw vegetables that are high in fiber. These crunchy foods gently scrub your teeth as you chew them, brushing away accumulating plaque and bacteria to prevent cavities from forming. They also encourage saliva production, which washes away any lingering particles. A few great options include:

• Cucumbers, carrots, celery.
• Broccoli and brussels sprouts.
• Bell peppers and sweet potatoes.

Strengthen Your Teeth with Calcium and Phosphorus

Your tooth enamel is the strongest substance in your body, but it wears down over time. Since it can’t repair itself, it replaces the minerals it’s lost by absorbing calcium and phosphorus from the foods you eat. These two vitamins also strengthen your jawbone and the connective tissues that hold your teeth in place. You can reinforce your enamel naturally by eating:

• Nonfat or low-fat cheese, milk, and yogurt.
• Turkey, chicken, and canned salmon.
• White beans, tofu, and almonds.

Fight Off Gum Disease with Vitamin C

Gum disease is a shockingly common bacterial infection in the gum tissue. If it isn’t treated, the harmful bacteria can cause permanent gum damage, tooth loss, and an increased risk of health conditions like heart disease. Thankfully, the earliest stage of gum disease can be combated, reversed, and prevented with great oral hygiene and a strong immune system. Eating more vitamin C can give your body the boost it needs to fight off infections throughout your body, including your mouth. You can find this important nutrient in:

• Pineapples, oranges, and lemons.
• Strawberries, kiwi, and kale.
• Cantaloupe, cauliflower, and tomatoes.

You can improve your oral health with a few healthy snacks every day. Adding these foods to your daily diet is a natural and delicious way to get a better smile!

About the Author

Dr. Laura Philipps of Midland, TX understands that there is an important connection between a healthy smile and your overall wellbeing. That’s why she provides attentive, one-on-one attention to create a custom treatment plan that is just as unique as you are. Since great oral health starts at home, she’d also be happy to go over the best ways to take care of your smile in your day-to-day life. If you’d like to know more, feel free to contact her via her website or at (432) 570-4433.