Healthy Diet for Healthy Teeth
Palo Alto, CA
Dental Expertise in Palo Alto provided by Dr. Sharma , Dr. Lin , and Dr. Cheong at Palo Alto Oral Health
 Did you know that your diet has a huge role in your oral health? Most of us know right away that certain foods can increase your risk of tooth decay, but it may come as a surprise to you to learn that other foods can help prevent the development of cavities from forming! A healthy diet, alongside a good oral hygiene regimen, can help ensure that your teeth remain healthy, too. We here at Palo Alto Oral Health strongly believe that eating a diet rich in nutritious fruits and vegetables, as well as other healthy foods, can help you have a happy and healthy smile throughout your lifetime!
What Foods and Drinks are Good for Teeth?
Some of the best foods that you can reach for, to help keep your teeth at their best health, are fruits and vegetables. We like leafy green vegetables, as they are high in healthy vitamins and minerals that can help keep your teeth healthy and strong. Greens like spinach are full of calcium and B-vitamins, which are shown to help protect your teeth. If you do not feel like munching on a salad, then feel free to grab a handful of baby carrots. These are filled with Vitamin-A and fiber, which are also good for your teeth.
Fruits can also be good for you, but you will want to be careful to avoid eating too many sugary fruits. Apples are a great choice, as are strawberries. An orange can be fine occasionally too, but it is high in acid and should not be eaten too often.
You can also enjoy foods like yogurt and cheese and milk, too. These are a great choice because they have calcium and protein, and yogurt has beneficial probiotics in it. The calcium that you can find in dairy products is important because calcium is a very important mineral that leads to strong teeth and bones, so getting plenty of it is important to keep a healthy diet.
What Foods and Drinks Should Be Avoided?
Many people think that juice is a healthy option, but while it does have vitamins and minerals in it, it is mostly sugar and can be high in acid. We see a lot of young children with serious tooth decay because their mom and dad put juice in their baby bottle, leading to a condition known as baby bottle tooth decay. To avoid this, you should drink only water and milk. Also avoid soft drinks, as they can also lead to tooth decay.
Other foods that should be avoided, or enjoyed only in moderation, include candy (especially hard candy or gummy candies), overly sticky foods (like dried fruit or taffy), foods that are hard (since they can damage your enamel), and overly starchy foods (like bread and cookies). All of these foods can hurt your teeth and increase your risk of cavities.
A healthy diet is a great way to help make sure your teeth remain strong, healthy, and bright. If you would like more advice and tips about how a healthy diet can help take care of your teeth, or you are ready to set up an appointment with us here at Palo Alto Oral Health, please give us a call at (650) 321-9693 today! |
