Foods That Can Prevent Tooth Decay

It’s been shown that your nutrition has an incredible impact on your oral health. Our food and drinks interact directly with the bacteria that grow in the mouth, which means that diets high in carbs and sugar will create an acidic film to grow on your enamel, causing tooth decay and other damage. In order to best protect your oral health, it’s essential to maintain a well-balanced diet, receive regular dental cleanings and perform at-home oral hygiene.

What food can protect my oral health?

• Calcium – Foods high in calcium, vitamin D, and phosphates will provide the nutrients necessary to strengthen tooth enamel and protect teeth from acids.
• Fiber – Fiber-rich foods, especially fruits and vegetables, help increase saliva in your mouth. The saliva is important to fighting tooth decay, because it can neutralize the acidity of plaque and bacteria and can help to wash these harmful substances away.
• Green tea – Tea, especially green tea, contains antimicrobial compounds. These compounds will help to suppress bacteria and, in turn, reduce inflammation, gum disease, and tooth decay.
• Malic acid – Malic acid is a helpful acid found in fruits and vegetables, which help protect oral health, and as an added bonus, have also been known to whiten teeth!

* It’s important to keep in mind that, while these foods may be the best choices for your teeth, you still need to eat a healthy, well-balanced diet. Consuming only these foods and beverages will not provide adequate nutrition.

If you’d like to find out more about how food can impact oral health, or to schedule an appointment with Dr. Behnaz Raisdana, please contact Auburn Family Dentistry, located in Wichita, KS.