San Francisco and Marin CA
Good nutrition is a cornerstone of good overall health. While you probably know that consuming too much sugar can increase your risk of oral issues like tooth decay, what you eat and drink also can have a positive impact on your dental health. So, what should be on the menu to help your teeth and mouth the most?
Read on to learn more about this topic from your San Francisco dentists.
- Green tea has been touted for quite some time as a beverage with beneficial properties, but among its advantages are that drinking green tea helps reduce the population of harmful plaque in your mouth, lowering your risks of cavities, gum disease and tooth loss.
- Milk is a fine source of calcium, which helps strengthen your bones, and lactose. Both calcium and lactose make for stronger teeth and encourage healthy gums.
- Yogurt is more than just a quick breakfast or a healthy snack that is high in protein. It’s also a probiotic that helps eliminate harmful bacteria while increasing the population of beneficial bacteria, which fortify your defense against illness and infection.
- Cheese is also rich in calcium and, almost as important for your dental health, low in acid. This is crucial, as highly acidic foods and drinks can wear down your tooth enamel, making you more vulnerable to both tooth decay and dental injury. Research has shown fewer cavities among children who make cheese a regular part of their diet.
- Fresh produce has been touted as a key part of a healthy diet by medical professionals for quite some time. When it comes to your dental health, the crunchier those fruits and vegetables are, the better. Eating crunchy produce gives your teeth a natural workout, helps encourage the production of saliva and fights against the accumulation of bacteria and plaque—the building blocks of tooth decay. Make sure to limit your intake of citrus fruits, however, as the high acid content and excessive sugar in many citrus fruits can harm your teeth and mouth if consumed in large quantities.
- Raisins provide a wide array of dental health benefits. They are non-acidic, high in fiber and contain phytochemicals, antibacterial agents that can kill an assortment of different plaques. Add raisins to your routine to protect yourself against germs building up in the mouth.
Nutrition counseling for good dental health in the Bay Area
These are just some of the foods and drinks that can benefit your teeth and mouth. If you have any questions about nutrition as it pertains to your dental health, then the team at Glen Park Dental can help. We can show you how nutritional choices can benefit your dental health, while also addressing any problems you might be experiencing. Your next dental checkup represents a great opportunity to ask these questions. If you’re overdue for a dental checkup, then make an appointment at Glen Park Dental today. We’re proud to provide our services to patients in Oakland, San Francisco, Marin and the surrounding areas in Northern California. Schedule your consultation today. Just call (415) 585-1500 or visit our website.
