In this article, we will be exploring the various do’s and don’ts when it comes to diet and oral health. We focus specifically on foods that aid in your oral health as well as foods that are harmful to it.

When it comes to looking after your teeth, a daily oral hygiene routine and regular visits to your dentist for check-ups and professional cleanings are essential, but on top of this the food you eat and oral habits you entertain will go a long way in determining the state of your oral health. In this article we will be considering the relationship between nutrition and oral health, and along the way we’ll be touching on a few dental habits it is best to avoid.

A dentist specializing in the placement of teeth implants in Chicago tells us that one of the worst things for teeth is acid, which is found in many foods and beverages and is also produced by oral bacteria as waste. This is why foods that neutralise acid are a particularly good addition to your diet, as it helps to maintain the health of your pearly whites. We will also be looking at foods that stimulate saliva production and that contain lots of minerals and vitamins, which help to repair tooth enamel.

The Goodies: Foods and Drinks that Benefit your Oral Health

• Fruits and veggies that are high in fiber: These foods have a cleaning effect as they literally scrub your teeth during eating. More importantly, they help to stimulate saliva, which plays a vitally important role in protecting your mouth. It neutralizes tooth-damaging acids, keeps your mouth full of moisture and contains calcium and phosphates that help rebuild important minerals.

• H2O: Water, being the primary component of saliva is indispensable to oral health. It will help greatly in maintaining your tooth and gum health. Simply using water as a rinse (fluoridated water = even better), will prevent tooth decay and go a long way to strengthening your tooth enamel.

• Nuts: Nuts are filled with all sorts of vitamins and minerals that are friends to your teeth. Almonds, peanuts, cashews and walnuts for instance contain calcium, vitamin-D fiber, magnesium and so on. These properties protect both teeth and gums and stimulate saliva, which will in turn help clean your mouth!

• Dairy: Enjoying dairy without added sugar helps teeth in a variety of ways. Cheeses aid in stimulating saliva, while the calcium helps replace lost minerals in your enamel.

• Foods high in vitamins A, C and D, as well as calcium and phosphates, are always a good addition to your regular diet as they do wonders for your teeth. This list can include beef, fish, eggs, spinach, potatoes, beans and whole grains.

The Baddies: Foods and Drinks that Harm Your Teeth

• Carbonated beverages: Soft-drinks are on top of the list when considering what to avoid; not only when it comes to oral health but general health as well. Most carbonated drinks are packed full of sugar, and the sugar-free drinks contain other tooth-eroding properties such as phosphoric and citric acid.

• Dried fruits: What? Yes, these little pocket sized, road friendly, often considered ‘healthy’ snacks are in fact really bad for your teeth! Fruits are naturally high in sugar. And when they are dried and these sugars become concentrated, their gummy texture causes them to cling to your teeth and get stuck in pockets that are hard to reach. Dried fruits are also filled with non-soluble cellulose fiber, which ends up trapping sugars between your teeth.

• Dry-mouth causing habits: This can be related to alcohol intake, smoking, medication side-effects and the list can go on… bottom-line, dry mouth poses a real danger to your teeth and gums. Take cognizance in keeping your mouth hydrated.

Our teeth are vital to us, not only in the function they serve but also in the confidence that comes with having a beautiful smile. Millions of Americans are facing edentulism and are in need of oral reconstruction. Luckily, modern dentistry offers patients the ability to get new teeth in a day in Chicago, but Chicago dentists advise that nothing can rival your own biological tools!