What healthy foods help strengthen your teeth?

1. Protein- and calcium-rich food
2. Fruits
3. Leafy greens
4. Fluoridated water

When it comes to taking care of our teeth, there’s more to it than just brushing them regularly. Because our teeth consist of fibers, tissues, mineral-based surfaces, and bones, they need lots of care to strengthen them — which includes eating the right foods. 

To have great oral health, you need nutrient-dense foods to strengthen your teeth. Not sure what they are? Our post lists healthy foods to strengthen teeth, and how they help you maintain a bright, healthy smile. 

Nutrition for your dental health

Foods are packed full of different nutrients and ingredients, and some of them can cause damage to your teeth over time. The foods you choose to eat — and how often you eat them — can affect the health of your teeth and gums. This may even put you at risk for tooth decay. In children, they can also lead to serious dental problems, such as poor tooth formation, abnormal jaw bone development, bleeding gums, and more. 

This is why you need to be wary about what you put on your plate, and have a diet that’s full of all the healthy foods to strengthen your teeth.

What healthy foods strengthen your teeth?

Now that we’ve come to this point, here’s our recommended list of foods to have to maintain good oral health: 

Protein- and calcium-rich food

Proteins help your teeth and jaw function properly for a lifetime. It helps to repair tissue and boosts the bone, which is a crucial factor for mineral density. Since poor dental health is caused by bone loss or the weakening of the jaw, eating healthy foods with protein — specifically casein — can help fight against it. Calcium, another mineral, is also important for maintaining bone density.

Foods with calcium:

• Low-fat cheese
• Fat-free or low-fat milk
• Plain yogurt
• Leafy greens

Foods with protein:

• Egg
• Fish
• Meat
• Poultry

Fruits

Aside from foods enriched with protein and calcium, your teeth need plenty of vitamins, such as vitamin A, C, and folic acid. Fruits are the best natural sources of these vitamins. Chewing on them can also help promote salivation, which is important for neutralizing the citric and malic acids left behind in your mouth. 

To help you promote better oral health, these are the fruits you can eat to strengthen your teeth:

• Oranges
• Grapefruits
• Strawberries
• Kiwis
• Apples
• Cranberries

Also, don’t forget that eating fresh fruits is much better than dried fruits since the latter has other preservatives aside from salt and sugar that can harm your teeth.

Leafy greens

Another healthy food group that helps improve your oral health is leafy greens. These foods are rich in calcium, folic acid, and other important nutrients that your teeth and gums need. Their crunchy leaves also help in cleaning your teeth and stimulating saliva production. 

Some greens that you can add to your salads, sandwiches, and other meals are:

• Spinach
• Lettuce
• Kale

Fluoridated water

While these foods and drinks can help restore (and maintain) your oral health, you should also consider adding fluoridated water to your routine. This one helps to flush away any remaining food particles from your teeth, and also boosts your enamel’s strength. With this type of drink, it’s easy to keep your teeth clean.

What healthy foods strengthen your enamel?

We just mentioned enamel — if you’re not familiar with the term, it’s the thin, hard mineral that coats your teeth. This coating is the first line of defense for tooth decay, as well as chewing, biting, crunching, and grinding food. 

It is also the hardest and strongest part of our body, but that doesn’t mean it does not ever get damaged. When you frequently eat foods with sugars and acids, it weakens your enamel.

The good thing is some healthy food habits can help preserve or strengthen it, such as:

• Sugar-free chewing gum for saliva production
• High in fiber fruits and vegetables
• Green or black teas 
• Foods or drinks with fluoride
• Foods high in protein
• Dairy products
• Eggs
• Nuts
• Beans
• Fish

What eating habits can lead to cavities?

As individuals, we have different habits when eating that can potentially develop tooth cavities. Now, these are the habits that you might be doing that you should stop right away to avoid harming your teeth:

• Foods or drinks that are high in sugar, starches, and acid
• Foods that are either liquid or solid yet hard to dissolve or sticky
• Having eating disorders or acid reflux
• Not brushing or flossing your teeth after every meal
• Combinations of food you consume
• Types of foods you eat or the snack you eat in between meals

Oral Prophylaxis Service At Elevate Dental

Here at Elevate Dental, we offer a dental service called Oral Prophylaxis or commonly known as teeth cleaning, which helps to fight gum or tooth problems. In this procedure, our professional and licensed dentists use special tools to remove tartar that builds up from poor eating habits, especially in areas that are hard to reach when brushing or flossing. 

Our service also includes tooth scaling, tooth polishing, and debridement if there is too much tartar around your teeth.

Key Takeaway

The way we take care of our teeth is important, which is why knowing the best healthy foods to strengthen your teeth is a must. With proper diet and habits, you can continue to be confident when smiling or conversing with other people.

Do you have dental problems that require high-quality yet affordable solutions? Here at Elevate Dental, our dentists have years of expertise and knowledge needed to help restore your teeth! 

Contact us today and we will answer all your questions concerning your teeth and gum problems.