In our first general dentistry tips blog on the best diet for your oral health, we talked about the minerals and vitamins needed for strong, healthy, and pearly white teeth. Teeth and gums get overlooked from time to time, but these parts of your body matter. Poor dental hygiene and poor oral health can lead to serious problems. An immune system bent on fighting gingivitis or periodontitis will have a harder time fighting off other infections. Bacteria and microorganisms attacking your gums have access to your bloodstream and can harm other parts of your body, most notably your lungs. A simple routine of brushing, flossing, and a proper diet is one of the best preventative general dentistry tactics out there to keep you safe. Some research has shown a correlation between gum disease and heart disease as well.
Related Post: General Dentistry: Best Diet For Your Oral Health (Part I)
Best Foods and Beverages for Preventative General Dentistry
If you read the previous blog of this series, you can probably guess a few of these great preventative general dentistry foods. Some of the foods on this list, however, might surprise you.
Milk
Not surprising that milk comes in first on our list. In some ways, water could go here, but the Parkcrest Dental Group chose milk because it has the added power of calcium. As a base, milk also raises the pH count, which slows tooth decay.
Water
The nectar of life, water helps improve skin, keeps us hydrated, and takes care of our teeth. Water rinses food particles from your mouth. Equally important, water stimulates your salivary glands. Saliva is your body’s best natural defense against bacteria.
Cheese
Combining some of the powers of milk with the powers of water, cheese increases saliva production, increases your mouth’s ph levels, and strengthens teeth with calcium.
Apples
Apples have a lot of nutrients necessary for good oral health. An unlikely hero for preventative general dentistry, sure, but the sugar in apples is minimal when compared to the water and nutrients they bring.
Onions
Onions don’t just help you scare away lovers with your bad breath, they also scare away bacteria looking to feast on your teeth and gums. All onions are renowned for their antibacterial properties.
Yogurt
Packed with both calcium and probiotics, yogurt strengthens teeth and reduces gum swelling.
Greens
Spinach, broccoli, kale, and other leafy greens show up in every list of health foods. With calcium and more vitamins than almost anything else, you can never go wrong with these.
Come By the Parkcrest Dental Group
General dentistry starts with your diet and your brushing and flossing habits, but we all need to see dentists eventually. If you find yourself in need of a dentist in Springfield, MO, look up the Parkcrest Dental Group. We’d be happy to have you.
