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Nutrition and Oral Health: Superfoods for Strong Teeth and Gums
Brushing your teeth and flossing can do a lot to maintain oral health—but they can’t overcome the damage caused by a poor diet. When you eat, you are not only feeding yourself, but you are also feeding the bacteria that live inside your mouth. The worse the food you eat, the more food you provide for harmful bacteria, which can lead to tooth decay and gum disease. But if you eat more healthfully, you feed the good bacteria in your mouth that protect your teeth and gums.
Among all the nutritious foods, some are incredibly potent regarding nutrients. These superfoods pack an extra punch in the nutrition department and can add some oomph to your diet while encouraging healthy oral bacteria.
The team at Hebert Family Dentistry is committed to helping you achieve optimal oral health. Read on to gain valuable knowledge for your oral health!
What Makes a Healthy Mouth?
According to the Harvard School of Public Health, the “health of our mouth, or oral health, is more important than many of us may realize.” The health of your oral cavity is a strong indicator of your overall health. Poor oral health can have painful and frustrating consequences, such as decreased work productivity, pain, missed school days, disruption to family life, and more.
A healthy mouth has moist tissues free of pain and unpleasant odors. The gums, supporting bones, and teeth are all considered when determining if a mouth is healthy. The gums should be pink or coral, firm, and not swollen or inflamed. Ideally, the gums shouldn’t bleed when you brush or floss.
A healthy mouth is also free of ulcers, lumps and tooth decay. It shouldn’t hurt to chew food or brush your teeth; your teeth should be firmly rooted in the bone.
What Foods Provide Powerful Support for Oral Health Care?
There are many superfoods out there. When it comes to foods that provide significant benefits to oral health, these are some of the best:
- Yogurt
There are various yogurts made from dairy products, nuts, and even coconut. What they all share in common is a high level of probiotics. These probiotics are good for your intestinal flora, which supports your oral and overall health. Yogurts also contain a lot of calcium, which is great for helping your tooth enamel and bones stay firm and hard.
- Salmon
Salmon is an excellent source of phosphorus, which combines with calcium to create hydroxyapatite. That’s one of the primary components of bones and the enamel of your teeth. There are multiple other reasons to eat salmon, including its high levels of omega-3 fatty acids, which help protect against heart disease.
- Berries
Vitamin C is a major player in strengthening the connective tissues that make up your gums, and berries are loaded with it. They also contain high levels of various other antioxidants that greatly benefit your overall health.
- Dark Leafy Greens
Dark greens contain high levels of vitamin C and A. Just like berries, vitamin C is excellent for helping strengthen the connective tissues in your gums. Vitamin A also aids in the development of tooth enamel and helps maintain the soft tissues in your mouth, like your gums, cheeks, and salivary glands.
- Nuts
Nuts are loaded with nutrients including phosphorus and calcium. As with salmon, the phosphorus helps create hydroxyapatite to aid in the development of bones and tooth enamel along with the calcium. Nuts are a perfect little package to improve the development of your tooth enamel and the bones that support your teeth and jaw.
Let Us Help Support and Care for Your Teeth, Gums, and Oral Health at Hebert Family Dentistry
A healthy diet that includes these superfoods will do a lot to support your oral health. But even with the best diet, it’s also important to visit the dentist regularly to ensure your mouth, gums, teeth and overall oral health are maintained. Fortunately, we are here to help with that!
Please contact Hebert Family Dentistry for all your dental care needs in Lafayette, Louisiana, and the surrounding areas. Our team is standing by to answer your questions and help you protect your oral health.