Everything that we eat and drink impacts our respective smiles. When we make healthy dietary decisions, our smiles stay cleaner, fresher, and brighter.
Our O’Fallon cosmetic dentists are here with some information about foods and drinks that can support optimal oral health! Read through this short article, and see if you can incorporate any of these dietary recommendations into your daily routine.
Perhaps the number one healthy dietary decision that you can make is to drink plenty of water throughout the day. When you are properly hydrated, your body is able to produce an adequate amount of saliva; saliva is your body’s natural way of refreshing your mouth and re-mineralizing dental enamel. There is a reason, after all, that people who battle chronic dry mouth are so much more likely to suffer from cavities, gum disease, and bad breath.
When choosing a snack during the day, you may want to reach for water-rich, crunchy veggies, like carrots and celery. These vegetables help you stay hydrated, and then as you munch on them, you’re actually scraping plaque from your dental surfaces!
If you’re looking for another beverage to sip throughout the day, why not try black or green tea? These teas contain polyphenols, which work to neutralize bacteria and refresh your smile. In order to reap oral health benefits, it’s best to prepare your tea without sweeteners/sugar.
One of the more random ingredients that can boost your oral health is actually garlic. Garlic contains allicin, and allicin naturally has antimicrobial benefits. Allicin may be able to help patients dealing with tooth decay as well as gum disease.
Keeping your smile healthy requires diligence every day, and your diet is an important component of maintaining oral health. If you want to learn more about how diet affects your teeth and gums, please feel free to reach out to our O’Fallon cosmetic dentists for more support!