Our Jenison family dentists are passionate about educating our patients on how to care for their teeth, & good oral health starts with diet. Too many of the wrong foods can increase the likelihood that you’ll develop serious oral issues down the line.
On the other hand, eating the right foods can help you fight tooth decay & enjoy a happy, healthy smile. Here’s what you need to know about foods that can help or hurt your oral health.
The Best Foods for Your Teeth
- Dairy: Dairy is high in calcium as well as protein, which both help to strengthen your teeth. While you can’t get back any enamel that you’ve already lost, you can help against future damage.
- Vegetables: Vegetables contain vitamins and minerals that are good for your teeth. Certain veggies, like carrots and celery, have the added benefit of scraping plaque off of your teeth when you chew them.
- Leafy greens: While all vegetables contain vitamins, leafy greens also have the advantage of being high in calcium and folic acid, which can help prevent gum disease.
- Fish: Many types of fish contain omega-3 fatty acids that can help combat periodontal disease. Incorporating fish into your diet in moderation can be great for your gums!
- Water: Staying hydrated is so important for maintaining healthy teeth. Water is necessary for your body to create saliva, which naturally flushes bacteria away from your teeth and gums.
The Worst Foods for Your Teeth
- Coffee and tea: While coffee and tea are fine in moderation, both of these common beverages can stain your teeth. If you do drink coffee or tea in the mornings, the best thing to do is either rinse your mouth out or brush your teeth once you’re finished so the stains don’t have time to set. Our cosmetic dentists can always advise you about teeth whitening if you’re concerned about staining.
- Too much sugar: Since childhood, we’re told that eating too much candy will give you a cavity. That’s partly true! Harmful bacteria feed on sugar, so eating sweet foods means more of these bacteria find their way into your mouth. If you like to eat sugary foods, be sure you beef up your teeth cleaning routine to make up for it.
- Starchy carbs: Similar to sugar, the starches in foods like bread, pasta, and potatoes tend to stick to the teeth and accelerate .
- Alcohol: Not only do many alcoholic beverages contain sugars that can lead to cavities, they can also dehydrate you and dry out your mouth. This prevents bacteria from being rinsed away by saliva and can lead to tooth decay. Alcohol has also been linked to a higher risk of developing oral cancer.
- Hard, chewy, or sticky foods: You don’t have to give up on your favorite snacks, but you should be aware that you have a greater chance of cracking, breaking, or injuring your teeth when you eat foods that are too hard or that pull at your existing dental work. You might be in for an emergency dentist appointment if you indulge in these treats.
Our family dentists in Jenison, MI, want to help you maintain a healthy smile through preventive dentistry. To schedule your next teeth cleaning with Drs. McMahon and McMahon, call McMahon Family Dental at (616) 457-2710.