6 Foods That Promote A Healthy Smile

Our dentists know that a lot of preventative dentistry takes place in our patients’ homes. It starts with good oral hygiene and a balanced diet. This is why we believe it is important to supply our patients with resources to help them improve not only their oral health, but also their overall health. For this reason, we are sharing our favorite healthy foods that promote brighter smiles.

1. Crunchy Fruits & Vegetables

Some of the best snacks for your smile are crunchy fruits and vegetables, including apples, carrots, jicama and celery. That’s only naming a few of the countless veggies that fall into this category! These crunchy snacks help to increase saliva flow, as well as clean away leftover food debris. They are also some of the easiest snacks to take to go, just throw them in a baggie and snack wherever you are headed.

2. Raw Onions

Onions are a staple food in South Texas, often used in a variety of dishes. However, they are usually onions that have been cooked. Raw onions have incredible antibacterial properties that are unfortunately lost during the cooking process. In fact, raw onions are known to wipe out several strands of oral bacteria in subjects of dental studies. It’s very easy to incorporate raw onions in your diet. Our favorite ways are in sandwiches, salads, salsa, sauces and even relishes.

3. Dairy Products

The American Dental Association’s studies show that dairy products, such as milk and cheeses, can help to promote a healthy smile. The calcium found in these foods helps your tooth enamel stay strong. As the only part of the human body that can’t repair itself, keeping tooth enamel healthy is an important part of good oral hygiene and preventing future dental issues. This is why we promote a balanced diet, including an ample amount of calcium, among our patients.

4. Sweet Potatoes & Foods Rich in Vitamin A

Sweet potatoes, as well as carrots, broccoli and pumpkin, are foods that are known to be rich in vitamin A. These foods play a vital role in your oral and overall health, because vitamin A is an important part of a balanced diet. Vitamin A promotes healthy gums and is known to help heal affected gums. It even plays an essential role in the formation of tooth enamel, as well as keeping it strong.

5. Nuts

Nuts are a great healthy snack, not only are they packed with protein, but they are also a great way to promote a healthy smile. Some nuts, such as cashews, even have microbe-fighting properties that can fight against bacteria that cause tooth decay. These same properties also help fight acne as well. Much like crunchy vegetables, nuts also help to clear away leftover food debris from prior meals!

6. Fruits High in Vitamin C

There are many fruits, such as kiwis, oranges and other citruses, that contain high levels of vitamin C. The fruits are vital to both good oral and overall health. Vitamin C plays a big role in keeping your mouth healthy. In fact, without vitamin C the collagen in your gums begin to breakdown, becoming more tender and susceptible to an infection of periodontal disease. As many of our patients know, periodontal (gum) disease is linked to many other disease that affect the human body through the Oral Systemic Link. This makes vitamin C an important part of a healthy diet, as well as preventative dentistry.

These are only a few of the many foods that we recommend to promote healthy smiles for our patients. What you eat is just as important as maintaining good oral hygiene, as both play a huge role in your oral and overall health. Adding these foods to your balanced diet can also help prevent dental issues for you and your family in the future. For more information on healthy foods to promote good oral hygiene, please feel free to contact us today.