7 Foods That Will Help to Improve Your Smile

When it comes to dental care in Beaverton, Oregon, no number of trips to the dentist will improve the health of your teeth and gums unless you brush and floss. When a solid oral hygiene routine is combined with regular trips to see our team at the Beaverton Dental Center, you can lay the successful foundation for enjoying a healthy smile that lasts a lifetime.

While most people learn the importance of types of oral hygiene basics from an early age, there are a variety of other steps you can take to maintain a great-looking smile. From choosing the right type of toothpaste to remembering to change your brush every three months, you can do more than just receive dental care in Beaverton, Oregon to protect the health of your teeth and gums.

One area most patients can easily make important changes to are the different types of foods they have in their diet. While you may associate foods like sugar and sodas as damaging to the health of your teeth, certain types of foods can actually help to strengthen tooth enamel, prevent the development of cavities, and fight against gum disease. Let’s take a look at a few of the foods that can make the biggest positive impact to your long-term oral health.

Crunchy Veggies

Stocking up on crunchy veggies offers a great diet choice as it adds the power of “nature’s toothbrush” to helping protect your oral health. This nickname comes from how this type of roughage will help to remove plaque from the surface of your teeth during meals. Not only does the crunchy, fibrous material scrape away plaque from your teeth when eaten, fresh veggies also increase the water content in the mouth which also washes plaque away from your teeth and gums.

Dairy Products

As with all types of dairy products that contain calcium, cheese, yogurt, and milk offer the ability to strengthen your bones, but they can also strengthen tooth enamel to make it more resistant to plaque. Whenever you eat sugar, plaque produces harmful acids that slowly break down tooth enamel, which can lead to the development of cavities. By adding more calcium to your diet, you can lower your risk for cavities and give your teeth the strength and resiliency they need.

Nuts

Nuts that do not contain any additives, specifically sugar, offer a great source of calcium and fiber. According to the American Dental Association, nuts are great for tooth health because they’re low in carbs, which plaque can use to damage tooth enamel. Another benefit of eating nuts is that chewing stimulates saliva production, which works to flush the mouth of harmful materials like plaque and food particles that linger in the mouth after eating.

Leafy Veggies

Leafy veggies, like spinach or romaine lettuce, that contain folate can also work to strengthen tooth enamel, reduce inflammation, and help to prevent the development of gum disease. Other foods that are folate-rich include lentils, asparagus, edamame, and black beans.

Garlic and Onion

While these types of foods are typically added to meals for their great flavor, they can also secretly help to improve your oral health. Onions and garlic have properties that can work to reduce the type of bacteria responsible for the development of gum disease in the mouth.

Shiitake Mushrooms

These types of tasty mushrooms contain a polysaccharide – a type of carb – called lentinan, which works to regulate the body’s immune system while also breaking down plaque.

Salmon

Salmon is rich in omega-3 fatty acids, which helps the mouth become more resilient to inflammation and the development of infections such as gum disease. Research also suggests that omega-3s can also help gum tissue heal more quickly following gum disease treatment.