Everyone knows that regular brushing and flossing can help keep cavities away, but did you know that the food you eat can also help in the fight against cavities? It is true! Some of the food you eat on a daily basis contains vitamins and minerals that naturally fight tooth decay and actively work to prevent cavities.
Interested in improving your diet to include foods that will keep your teeth and gums healthy and strong? Keep reading! The following are some examples of cavity-fighting foods that you will want to start incorporating into your regular diet.
Foods Rich in Calcium
When your body doesn’t get enough calcium, either through the foods you eat or through a supplement, it gets it from your teeth. By breaking down your teeth, your body is able to get the calcium it needs, but it puts you at an increased risk of developing cavities as a result of extensive tooth decay.
A natural way to fight against cavities is to make sure you are eating foods that are rich in calcium. If you eat enough calcium-rich foods your body won’t have a need to break down your teeth to get more calcium.
Some examples of calcium-rich food include:
- Milk
- Yogurt
- Cheese
- Broccoli
- Bok Choy
- Almonds
- Dried beans
- Brazil nuts
- Leafy greens
Eat Foods that Increase Saliva
By simply increasing the flow of saliva in your mouth, you could be actively working to fight against cavities. The drier your mouth gets, the better the conditions are to have bacteria grow and cause tooth decay. Over time, untreated tooth decay can lead to cavities.
A number of foods ranging from beans to vegetables and nuts can increase saliva production by having a high amount of fiber in them. Some examples of foods you will want to incorporate into your diet to increase saliva flow include:
- Brussel sprouts
- Beans
- Peas
- Peanuts
- Almonds
- Bran
- Apples
- Oranges
- Bananas
- Raisins
- Dates
- Figs
Foods Made with Whole Grains
Eating foods made with whole grains has two benefits: it improves the health of your gums and it strengthens your teeth. Foods rich in whole grains have high amounts of iron, vitamin B, and magnesium, which have all been linked to helping keep your gums healthy and increasing the strength of your teeth.
Some foods that are made with whole grains that you will want to consider incorporating into your diet include:
- Whole-grain cereals
- Brown rice
- Bran
- Whole-grain muffins
- Whole-grain bread
Remember to Stay Away from the Sugary Snacks and Drinks
Even if you incorporate all these foods into your diet, you will still want to make an effort to avoid sugary drinks and snacks. When you eat sugary snacks, the sugar works to weaken the enamel on your teeth which increases your risk of developing tooth decay. Tooth decay, when left untreated, can turn into hardened plaque and lead to numerous cavities.
Don’t Forget to Schedule an Appointment for a Routine Exam and Cleaning
Eating these foods may help your child fight against cavities, but it won’t completely prevent cavities from forming. Scheduling an appointment with a pediatric dentist for a regular checkup and professional cleaning should be done every six months to help keep your child’s teeth and gums healthy.
During a regular checkup, a pediatric dentist will monitor the health of your child’s teeth and gums. Depending upon your child’s age, x-rays may be taken to make sure your child’s teeth are growing properly and no problems are present. If any problems are noticed, such as damaged teeth or cavities, your pediatric dentist will make treatment recommendations that will help improve the health of your child’s teeth and gums.
Regular cleanings are performed every six months. Professional cleanings are necessary because plaque may have built up in areas of the mouth. If plaque is left to harden in the mouth, it will cause extensive tooth decay that could lead to tooth loss or cavities. A professional cleaning will remove any plaque that is present.
Take the first step to improving the health of your child’s teeth and gums by calling Pediatric Dentistry of Central Florida to schedule an appointment for a dental checkup and professional cleaning for your child.
