Do you feel like your gums are extra sensitive lately? Do you need good dental hygiene? You’re not the only one. Maintaining good oral health is more than just brushing and flossing your teeth regularly. When it comes to knowing how to strengthen teeth and gums, it lies in understanding the importance of healthy nutrition.
A good diet helps you feel energetic, healthy, and happy and fortifies oral health. If you want to understand the link between nutrition and sound teeth, keep reading.
Nutrition and Oral Health: What’s the Link?
The mouth is a door to the rest of the digestive system. You might hate to think it, but what you eat impacts every aspect of your body. Whether it’s your dental or digestive health, watching what you eat is mandatory. You need to track what you’re eating for strengthened teeth and gums. Poor nutritional choices can cause dental issues like tooth decay, gum disease, and even tooth loss. When you eat well, your teeth and gums will also feel more vigorous. Strengthening teeth and gums won’t be instant; it will require time and habitual change.
Vital Nutrients for Oral Health
Calcium
It is a fundamental mineral for not only your skeletal health but your teeth, too. Calcium aids in the development and maintenance of rugged teeth. It forms the structural basis of enamel, the protective outer layer of teeth. Foods such as milk, cottage cheese, spinach, and fortified plant-based milk are excellent options for your diet when you’re looking to load up on calcium.
Vitamin D
Vitamin D plays an unforgettable role in calcium absorption, helping in the correct mineralization of teeth. Factors like sunlight exposure, fatty fish, and fortified dairy products are essential to strengthen teeth and gums.
Phosphorus
Phosphorus works together with calcium to fortify enamel. It is abundantly available in many commonly found foods like meat, fish, dairy, and nuts.
Vitamin C
Keep the gum disease away with the power of vitamin C! It also boosts collagen production, which aids in improving the integrity of gum tissues. Find it in strawberries, mandarin oranges, bell peppers, and kale.
Vitamin A
A dry mouth can be an early indicator of worsening dental health, and vitamin A is directly responsible for saliva production. Saliva is vital to wash away bacteria and to keep the mouth moist. To strengthen teeth and gums, include sweet potatoes, carrots, spinach, and animal liver in your diet.
Vitamin K
Blood clotting and bone metabolism are two vital functions in the human body. Vitamin K is essential for both of these functions. If you have sensitive gums prone to bleeding, this vitamin becomes crucial. Maintain a strong jaw that can support your healthy teeth by including leafy green vegetables, broccoli, and soybeans in your diet. You can also add soybean by-products like tofu and soy milk.
Fluoride
This is strictly not a nutrient but a mineral essential to strengthen teeth and gums. It also plays the role of a superhero in defending against tooth decay. Think of it as a shield for your teeth, protecting them against decay. It is crucial in making your teeth resistant to acid attacks from bacteria. You can find fluoridated water and toothpaste easily in supermarkets. There are also specific foods that can be prepared with fluoridated water to improve your fluoride intake.
Nutritional Tips for Stronger Teeth and Gums
You may want to go for a few dietary modifications that strengthen teeth and gums, but the changes may only be noticeable after some time. The importance of healthy nutrition for good teeth can’t be undermined, and here’s what you should do.
- Consuming a balanced and nutritious diet: Don’t be a picky eater, especially when you want good teeth. A diverse variety of fruits, vegetables, and lean proteins are necessary. Don’t forget to include whole grains and dairy, too!
- Go for sugar-free gum: You might not realize it, but regular gum can harm your teeth in many ways. In comparison, chewing sugar-free gum is suitable for saliva production, which then, in turn, aids in neutralizing acid and promoting remineralization. You can find many chewing gums containing xylitol, known for its dental benefits.
- Don’t skip dairy or dairy alternatives: When it comes down to it, calcium is vital for your body and good dental health. Fortified options can also work, and they will help strengthen teeth and gums over time. Knowing the right fortified alternatives is essential to understanding the importance of healthy nutrition.
- Add crunchy fruits and vegetables: You might feel like eating that apple or carrot could harm your teeth, but that’s not entirely true. Crunchy vegetables and fruits act as natural toothbrushes for your teeth, stimulating saliva production simultaneously.
- Think about adding supplements: If your daily diet doesn’t have all the nutrients and minerals needed to strengthen teeth and gums, supplements are not harmed. But you must talk with a healthcare professional before taking any supplements for your health.
- Drink green tea: With anti-inflammatory and antibacterial compounds, green tea is your wonder drink for better teeth. It can also help reduce the growth of bacteria in your mouth and the risk of cavities.
Take Care of Your Teeth with Definitive Dental
With the help of regular dental exams and cleanings, you can ensure that your dental health is one thing you don’t have to worry about. At Definitive Dental, our team always puts the patient’s comfort first, and we guarantee that you’ll have a comfortable experience with us. Whether you’re here to get dental implants or a dental x-ray, ensure that your smile is always bright with the help of our experienced team.
Learn how to strengthen teeth and gums, the importance of healthy nutrition, how to prevent tooth decay, and more with Definitive Dental’s help. Contact us today to schedule an appointment.
