8 Foods to Keep Your TEETH Healthy!!

Many people know that if you're going to chew gum, it's best to opt for a sugar-free option. The reason is that anything that's really high in sugar isn't the best choice for your mouth. It's also fairly common knowledge that brushing shortly after finishing a meal can help protect teeth.

What isn't as well known is that certain types of food can significantly improve the overall health of your mouth. Although this information isn't as common as advice like "brush your teeth twice a day," the positive impact it can have means it's definitely worth learning more about.  At Lula's for Lunch...and More Catering , we use ALL of these foods in our recipes!

What Foods Should You Incorporate Into Your Diet?

If you want to keep your mouth healthy, here are eight foods that can help you accomplish your goal:

Cranberries: This fruit can help reduce bacteria that causes plaque. The same is true for cherries.

Citrus Fruit: Options like peppers and melons create an acidic environment in your mouth. Although that may sound like a bad thing, it actually helps to prevent bacteria growth. Additionally, the high Vitamin C content in citrus fruit helps to fight against gum disease and gingivitis.

Cinnamon: Not only can you use this spice in a variety of recipes, but doing so will help to get rid of any bacteria in your mouth.

Whole Grains: A study published in the American Journal in Clinical Nutrition found that when men had 4 or more daily servings of whole grains, they experienced a 23% reduction in periodontal disease.

Green Tea: If you feel that coffee is taking a toll on your mouth, switching to green tea is an excellent option. Although green tea has caffeine, it's a smoother boost thanks to having less than coffee. Additionally, you don't have to deal with the same type of staining or bad breath. And as if that wasn't enough, it also contains catechins, which are antioxidants that lower the risk of gum disease.

Apples: Not only are apples full of vitamins, but because chewing them increases saliva production, it helps protect the mouth by rinsing it out. The same is true for celery and carrots. Just keep in mind that if you're wearing braces, biting into a whole apple may not be the best idea.

Raisins: It wasn't that long ago when people thought that sticky foods like raisins were actually bad for teeth. While your mouth still isn't going to benefit from eating sticky sweets like caramel, recent research has linked some of the antioxidants in raisins to a reduction in gum disease and inflammation.

Yogurt: What's great about yogurt is in addition to reducing gingivitis and plague, it can also cut down the amount of hydrogen sulfide in your mouth, which is the chemical associated with bad breath.

Now that you know just how big of a role the food you eat plays in your oral health, you can start taking steps to ensure that you're getting the right mix of foods on a daily basis!  Thanks to Tri-State Family Dentistry for these mouth saving tips!   www.tristatefamilydentistry.com