Simple Dietary Changes that Improve Your Oral Health

If you’re looking for easy ways to boost the health of your teeth, gums, and the rest of your mouth, there are plenty of options. For example, if you make any of these common tooth-brushing mistakes, just eliminating them can make a big difference. It’s also good to develop these daily habits for better oral health. And in this post, we’d like to offer a few dietary changes that improve your oral health.

Conveniently enough, everything on this list promotes better overall health, too. They’re all positive steps, and they’re not difficult to take. So, you can feel good about incorporating all these dietary changes that improve your oral health into your regular routine.

Better Dietary Choices to Promote Oral Health

• Eat less sugar. You’ve heard that sugar rots your teeth, and it’s true; sugar contributes significantly to tooth decay. When sugar mixes with plaque built up on your teeth, it forms an acid that gradually eats away at your teeth.

• Drink more water. Drinking plenty of water is important for your health in many ways. It also helps rinse food and plaque off your teeth and gums. And it keeps you hydrated, which in turn helps prevent dry mouth. And did you know that dry mouth is one of the common causes of bad breath?

• Drink more black and green tea. These contain polyphenols that help prevent bacterial growth and plaque buildup that can lead to cavities and gum disease. Just keep in mind that tea can discolor your teeth over time, so it’s a good idea to brush shortly after drinking it.

• Get more calcium. Calcium build stronger bones and teeth. Dairy foods are great for this, and have the added benefit of supplying vitamin D, which is also good for your oral health. Some dark leafy green vegetables, like kale, collard greens, and bok choy, are also rich sources of calcium and lots of other nutrients. Broccoli is good too. Some foods are also fortified with calcium.

• Get more phosphorous. Most people associated calcium and vitamin D with strong teeth, but phosphorous is another important mineral for your teeth. A few good sources of phosphorous include protein-rich foods like fish and shellfish, meats, poultry, nuts, and legumes.

• Get more vitamin C. Vitamin C is famous for various benefits, but most people don’t realize it’s also helpful for oral health. This nutrient helps prevent gingivitis and strengthens all the soft tissue in your mouth. It’s easy to get vitamin C from many types of fruit and veggies.