The link between quality food and oral health is well established. While sweets are not recommended to prevent cavities, there are certain foods and beverages that should be favored on a daily basis. What's the right diet for healthy teeth? HELVIDENT presents a list of products to help you maintain good oral hygiene. So you can enjoy your meals with a beautiful smile.
Healthy foods for healthy teeth
Here's our list of foods that are good for your teeth. We recommend that you include as many of them as possible in your diet for healthy teeth.
Fruits and vegetables
It's no secret that vegetables are rich in fiber, vitamins and minerals, all of which are excellent for general health. Don't hesitate to regularly chew into a raw carrot or apple to clean your teeth. Their crunchy texture rids the mouth of food residues and boosts saliva production. Enrich your diet with green vegetables such as spinach, parsley or kale. Cranberries, on the other hand, are invaluable for oral health. It contains specific antioxidants that prevent bacteria from attaching themselves to the enamel. Use fresh or dried.
Dried vegetables
Pulses also play an important role in the relationship between diet and healthy teeth. Like fish and shellfish, they are high in fluoride. Include chickpeas, split peas or dried beans in your weekly menu to help your teeth and bones remineralize.
Wholegrain rice, bread or pasta
Wholefoods do not contain simple sugars, which are responsible for the cavity formation. In fact, they are made up of complex sugars that help you feel full. So you're less tempted to nibble, and less likely to have acid attacks in your mouth. Choose bread, rice, pasta and wholegrain cereals.
Fish and shellfish
Fish is a key ally in the relationship between diet and healthy teeth. The same goes for seafood in general. They contain omega-3 fatty acids, which are excellent for health. What's more, their flesh is rich in fluoride, which helps strengthen enamel. Salmon, for example, contains around 1.9 mg/100 g. Fluoride-iodized salt is also good for your teeth.
Dark chocolate
Good news for chocolate lovers: cocoa is recognized for its beneficial effects on your teeth. The only condition is that you choose dark chocolate with a minimum cocoa content of 70 %. Three elements go into its composition: phosphates, polyphenols and fatty acids. Together, they offer optimum protection against acids, bacteria and dental erosion.
The cheese
Few people realize that cheese plays an important role in protecting teeth. With its calcium, phosphorus and casein content, it inhibits bacteria in the mouth and helps remineralize enamel. Eat cheeses with a high calcium content, such as Emmental, preferably at the end of a meal.
Which drinks are best for beautiful teeth?
In addition to food, there are also certain beverages that help to preserve the beauty of your smile. Here are the ones we recommend you use every day.
Still water
In a recent issue of its journal InfodentsThe Swiss Society of Dentists (SSO) recommends drinking water after every meal or snack. Every time we consume a food or drink, we increase the risk of acid attacks on tooth enamel. Drinking water helps to reduce the bacterial load in the mouth, produce more saliva and thus neutralize acids. Prefer lightly fluoridated water to prevent cavities.
The tea
Did you know that tea (green and black) is an ally for your oral health? That's why it's such a popular natural ingredient in toothpaste. Tea leaves release catechins that prevent the formation of plaque. They also contain fluoride, which helps enamel fight acid attack. With its antibacterial action, tea is also a good remedy for gingivitis and halitosis (bad breath).
While diet is essential to maintaining good oral hygiene, don't forget the basics of prophylaxis. Brush your teeth at least twice a day and visit your dentist regularly. Dental clinics HELVIDENT in Lausanne, Fribourg and Aigle have a complete team of professionals at your disposal. They can also advise you on the subject of "What diet for healthy teeth?".
