There’s a reason behind the saying, “You are what you eat.” What you eat provides your body with the nutrients and building blocks it needs to keep your body running and in good repair. You are literally made out of the nutrients in what you eat. To eat well so you can get those nutrients, you must keep your teeth healthy. That means making diet choices that support good tooth health.
Seek After Critical Nutrients
You need a good balance of nutrients for your overall health, but some nutrients are essential for your teeth. Your teeth need calcium, potassium, phosphorus, vitamin C, and vitamin A. You can get these nutrients from a variety of sources. Dairy products like milk, yogurt, and cheeses are good sources of calcium, though there are some plant-based sources of calcium that work too.
Potassium can be found in bananas, sweet potatoes, avocados, potatoes, and tomatoes. Look to seafood, beef, pork, soybeans, and pumpkin seeds for phosphorus. Citrus fruits are a well-known source of vitamin C, but you can also find it in potatoes and leafy greens. Orange-colored foods, fish, egg yolks, spinach, and kale are good sources of vitamin A.
Avoid Too Much Sugar
Sugar isn’t just fuel for humans. Bacteria in your mouth love sugar and use it to damage your teeth. To be fair, mouth bacteria don’t intentionally damage your teeth. It’s just the result of the byproducts of bacterial sugar digestion sitting on your teeth. Those byproducts can be pretty acidic, which wears away your enamel before eroding the other parts of your tooth. Save sugary foods for occasional treats. Avoid snacking on them throughout the day. Wash them down with a good glass of water.
Choose Water or Milk
Speaking of water, water and milk are some of the more tooth-friendly beverages out there. Sugary drinks like juices, soda, and sports drinks bathe the teeth in sugar. Water is the better choice since it can rinse food particles off of teeth. It also helps you avoid having a dry mouth, which also protects your teeth. Consuming a glass of plain cow’s milk with meals doesn’t usually cause cavities. In addition to being a good source of calcium, that makes milk a fairly tooth-friendly drink.
Taking good care of your teeth is an important part of taking care of your overall health. So much of how you feel is impacted by what you eat, and what you can eat is impacted by the health of your teeth. Keep your teeth in good health by consuming food and drink that supports tooth health and avoid eating an excess of those foods that would harm them.
Did you enjoy this article? Here’s more to read: Teen Health Issues Every Parent Needs to Know About
