Nutrition and diet greatly influence oral health. It’s essential to incorporate foods that are good for oral health since they impact cavity development, periodontal disease, and erosion.
Age, medical condition, and socioeconomic status can affect diet and nutritional recommendations. For instance, older adults may experience tooth loss and decreased appetite and chewing ability. Research has shown that tooth loss is linked to dietary deficiencies and changes in food intake, as seen in a systematic review of the connection between nutrition and oral health.
What Nutrients Do Our Teeth Need?
Knowing what nutrients our bodies need will help us make better dietary and nutritional choices and understand how to prevent most dental issues.
According to Pagosa Springs dentists, here are some of the essential nutrients our teeth need:
Vitamin A
Vitamin A is an essential vitamin for oral health. It helps you produce more saliva, which neutralizes the acids in your mouth, breaks down food debris, and flushes out harmful bacteria and acids from your mouth. It also prevents dry mouth, making the teeth and gums less vulnerable to disease and infection.
Vitamin C
Vitamin C, an antioxidant, helps heal gums and reduce or prevent inflammation. It also helps the body produce more collagen, accelerating healing and supporting cell repairs. They keep connective tissues in your mouth healthy and reduce tooth erosion from early childhood.
Vitamin D
Vitamin D signals the intestines to absorb calcium into the bloodstream. Together with calcium, they are necessary for strong bones and teeth, preventing cracks and fractures in the bones and teeth.
Calcium
Calcium is a crucial mineral for the human body that plays a vital role in building and maintaining strong bones and teeth. According to the National Institute of Health, calcium supports metabolic processes. It also helps strengthen your teeth’s enamel, keeping cavities and tooth erosion at bay.
Magnesium
Magnesium is another essential mineral for overall health, playing a crucial role in the complete development of bones and teeth. It’s a vital mineral component of teeth; without it, your enamel may turn soft and make your teeth more prone to tooth decay, bleeding, and tooth loss.
Water
Our bodies are 60% water, making it vital to maintain good overall health. Staying hydrated helps distribute nutrients, eliminate waste, and keep our muscles active. It also helps prevent our mouth from getting dry and wash away cavity-causing bacteria. Drinking fluoridated water also strengthens your teeth’s enamel and makes them more resistant to cavities.
The Best Foods for Healthy Smiles and Bodies
Now that you know the minerals your teeth need, let’s look at foods that will provide them. Some of these foods can also act as natural remedies for cavities.
Here are some foods that you should incorporate into your meals for a healthy smile and body:
Fruits and Vegetables
Vegetables are great for your teeth because they require a lot of chewing. Their rich and crunchy textures make them natural teeth cleaners that stimulate saliva flow. They are also packed with essential vitamins that your teeth and whole body need. Celery is the closest thing to natural dental floss due to its fiber content and crunchiness. Carrots are also a great source of nutrients and help fight off cavities. They are also rich in vitamin C, calcium, and keratin, which have many dental benefits.
Eating fibrous fruits like apples and pears also helps clean your teeth, stimulate your gums, and increase salivation that neutralizes citric and malic acid. Choose fresh apples over store-bought sugary apple juice. Eating pears raw neutralizes the acids in your mouth that cause cavities.
Leafy greens are super healthy because they are high in calcium, folic acid, and many other vital vitamins and minerals that your gums and teeth need.
Dairy Products
Dairy products are delicious sources of calcium that can strengthen your teeth and bones. Dairy products like cheese, yogurt, and milk have high calcium and low sugar content and are rich in casein and phosphate. Casein is a protein that strengthens enamel, while phosphates help maintain tooth enamel, balance pH levels, and increase saliva production. Yogurt is particularly good for your teeth due to its probiotics that protect against gum disease, cavities, and bad breath.
Nuts
Nuts are rich in nutrients like calcium and magnesium. Almonds, Brazil nuts, and cashews are especially beneficial because they help fight tooth decay-causing bacteria. Peanuts are rich in calcium and vitamin D, while almonds have high calcium levels, which is good for teeth and gums. Cashews stimulate saliva production, while walnuts have fiber, iron, potassium, zinc, and vitamins D, E, and B6.
Key Takeaway
Nutrition and diet are key factors in maintaining healthy teeth and body. Vitamins A, C, and D, calcium, and water are just some of the many nutrients your body needs. You can get these nutrients from nuts, most dairy products, and fruits and vegetables, so make sure you incorporate these foods into your diet.
