8 Food and Drinks That Are Good For Your Oral Health

When you think of oral care, are you limiting yourself only to brushing, flushing, and dental visits? Wrong. Proper oral care extends beyond just that. Because the mouth is used for eating and drinking, it should also come as no surprise that a bulk of the effort for maintaining oral health has to do with taking in the right food and drinks.

Yes, rightly so as there many beverages and food that you can enjoy, which also gives you the benefit of excellent oral health.

Eating the right food and consuming the right drinks may be one of the most effective and natural ways for you to maintain good oral health. Who knows, on your next dental visit, you may even have to spend lesser for oral problems.

That said, here are examples of teeth-friendly food and drinks:

  1. Onions

Onions? Yuck. The mouth is going to end up smelling bad. Yes, that may be true. Hence it’s also not recommended to take in onions solely right before you’re headed out the house. But, at the right timing, onions can be very good for your oral health. This springs from the ability of onions to neutralize bacteria. Onions have excellent antibacterial properties that can help fight the common bacteria that lead to cavities and gum disease.

To be more subtle about the onion smell, here are some tips on how to include onions in your diet:

  • Have onions on your soup, stew, and chilis
  • Incorporate onions as salad toppers
  • Add onions in sandwiches and burgers
  1. Cheese

If you’re one of those who enjoy a wide selection of cheeses, then this is good news for you. Your love for cheese may also result in you having excellent oral health. Cheese, by its nature, can combat acid erosion of the teeth. Having cheese after a meal can counter the acidic effects of soda, bread, or citrus, for instance. This makes cheese boards an excellent after-meal dessert!

  1. Green Leafy Vegetables

Green leafy vegetables are good for your health. Even more, they’re superfoods for your mouth and teeth, too. Kale and spinach, for instance, are rich in Vitamin C. This enhances the production of red blood cells, which also, in turn, reduces inflammation. Hence, its effectivity in battling gum disease and irritation.

Additionally, also, leafy green vegetables require more chewing. This helps stimulate the creation of saliva. Which, also, in turn, helps flush out plaque and bacteria that may be sticking on your gums.

  1. Fish

A high level of calcium in the body is needed to protect your teeth and gums from any possible disease. But, the body also can’t absorb calcium when it’s deficient in Vitamin D. This is where the power of fish comes in, as it’s rich in Vitamin D. Like a domino effect, calcium is better absorbed also in your body. This helps make your teeth stronger.

  1. Green Tea

If you’ve ever heard that green tea was terrible because it causes discoloration on your teeth, then you’re wrong. In fact, green tea is one of the most teeth-friendly drinks. Green tea is rich in antioxidants that can help fight off inflammation in your body. In particular, green tea has catechins, which can help fight away different types of oral bacteria that target your gums. Drinking one glass of green tea, therefore, works as a natural mouthwash.

  1. Orange Juice

Freshly squeezed orange juice, and the fruit itself, is an excellent source of Vitamin C. This can help strengthen your blood vessels and slow down the progression of gum disease. Make orange juice a regular staple. Just be sure to take it as raw as possible and without sugar. Else, you’re only defeating the purpose.

  1. Shiitake Mushrooms

Shiitake mushrooms are abundant in the antibacterial compound known as Lentinan. This can help fight against plaque-building bacteria. Even if you brush your teeth regularly, this may not be enough for this kind of bacteria. It’s capable of hiding and breeding in hard to reach places in your mouth. When uncontrolled, it can lead to gum diseases such as gingivitis. Shiitake mushrooms, once in a while, in your meals, is an excellent natural antibacterial treat for your mouth.

  1. Water

Yes, even a simple beverage such as water has excellent effects for the betterment of your oral health. After all, the saliva is mostly made up of water. Unfortunately, when you drink very little water, dehydration can make your saliva thick. When this happens, it can lead to severe damage to your teeth.

Water can help in neutralizing acid on your teeth. It’s also beneficial in breaking down the food better, thereby also reducing tooth decay. Additionally, after you take in coffee or other food and beverage that can cause discoloration of teeth, rinse it immediately with water. That way, you’re able to combat its adverse acidic effects right away.

Conclusion

There are many habits to ensure that you have that big, confident smile. But, note that oral health goes beyond just the physical aspect of it. A lot also has to do with everything else in your mouth, like your teeth and gums. No matter how many times you go to the dentist, or how religious you are with flossing, if you keep indulging in the wrong food, you’re still going to damage your teeth. With this list, you can now tweak your diet to contain more healthy food and drinks.