We know that dental care is important to keeping a healthy and happy smile. What many people don’t take into consideration is that your Washington D.C. general dentist also needs to observe proper nutritional standards to maintain healthy teeth and gums.
There are different foods that can have an impact on your dental health.
Eating fresh fruits and vegetables instead of processed sugars will help to decrease tooth decay and promote overall well-being.
Whole grains are going to help protect the teeth. They require a larger amount of chewing and therefore stimulate saliva protection.
Eating cooked starchy foods like rice, potatoes and bread also have lower decay producing properties. The concern comes in when sugar is added to starchy foods.
• Cheese – Stimulates saliva production and is rich in calcium
• Milk – Contains lactose which is less acidic than other sugars. It also contains calcium.
• Plant Foods – These fibrous foods stimulate saliva production.
• Black & Green Teas – Rich in polyphenols and flavonoids which are antioxidants that protect against decay.
• Chocolate- Studies show that eating cocoa in unrefined form can have anti-decay potential.
In addition to paying close attention to your diet, you’ll also want to maintain good oral health habits. When you combine these two practices together, you set yourself up for success against battling tooth decay and other dental ailments. Visit your Washington D.C. general dentist for more information on how your nutrition can affect your oral health by calling us at (202) 822-3787.