Many people view food as being healthy or not healthy for their body, but few people think about foods and beverages that are beneficial for their teeth. The mouth is the gateway to the body. It allows us to experience so many amazing things. Being connected to the nose, we enjoy the smell of delicious food. Taste buds are specialized organs that communicate with the brain, so we can process the flavors in our mouth. Saliva has enzymes that help aid in the digestive process. Teeth mechanically breakdown food to make it easier for our bodies to absorb its nutrients.
I am not a nutritionist, but as a dentist, I have learned that what we put in our mouths plays a vital role in oral health. One positive thing is many of the foods that are healthy for our bodies are also healthy for our teeth. In this article, I would like to discuss a few foods that are beneficial for your teeth and why they are beneficial for your teeth.
Apples
Apples are firm and fibrous. When you bite into an apple, existing plaque can be mechanically dislodged from the tooth. While apples do contain some natural sugars, they have not shown to cause plaque accumulation like when eating foods containing processed sugar. Although apples can be healthy for teeth in its natural form, the same is not true of applesauce or apple juice. Many applesauce products and juices contain high levels of sugar, and the mechanical dislodging of plaque does not occur as it does with an apple in its purest form.
Carrots, Celery, and Cucumber
Due to their high water and fiber content biting into carrots, celery, and cucumber dislodges plaque, a by-product of the bacteria in your mouth. Oral bacteria eat what you eat, and they like to eat foods that are carbohydrate-based (i.e. pasta, rice, cakes, cookies, sodas, etc.). After eating these carbohydrate-based foods, you will notice more plaque buildup on your teeth.
Cheese
Cheese is a wonder! It has many health benefits for your mouth. It contains calcium, which promotes bone and tooth health. And due to its low sugar levels, the mouth remains at a neutral pH, even while eating cheese. In contrast, when foods with higher sugar levels are eaten, the mouth becomes acidic, which promotes dental decay.
Yogurt
Yogurt has similar benefits as cheese, but it also contains probiotics. Probiotics could be a topic by themselves. What is a probiotic, you might ask? Probiotics are bacteria. I know I mentioned bacteria cause plaque. Many bacteria also live in a specific cavity-inducing niche. The Probiotics replace the cavity-inducing bacteria for a bacteria that thrives in the same environment but does not produce cavities.
Water
In the past decade, water has been making a comeback! It somewhat went out of vogue because it was so blasé. Many scientists, nutritionists, and physicians encourage the consumption of water — and a lot of it! It is recommended we consume about three to four liters of water a day. Water is the only beverage I consider healthy for your teeth, as it is the only beverage that keeps the mouth at a neutral pH. Milk is healthy for teeth in that it contains calcium, but it still causes the oral cavity to dip into the acidic pH levels. And for children who sip on milk throughout the day, a higher rate of tooth decay can be found.
I recommend for children (and adults) to drink milks, sodas, and juices only at mealtimes and to only drink water between meals. This prevents the oral cavity from remaining in an acidic environment throughout the day.