Best food and drinks for good oral hygiene

Along with keeping up in regular dental visits, brushing, and flossing, oral hygiene steps your mouth requires the right amount of nutrition as your mouth is part of the systematic whole. There are various kinds of foods and beverages that aren’t great for our oral hygiene which may result in breakdown of the bone, gums and other supporting structures of your teeth, but there are also some  food for healthy gum that are quite beneficial which are high in fiber, nutrients, calcium, phosphorus, and magnesium. 

Here are some of the best foods for oral hygiene: 

• Fiber-rich vegetables and fruits: Foods with fiber are the natural defense against gum diseases and cavities which also helps you keep your saliva flowing, massages gums and cleans between teeth. After eating something that contains starches and sugars, your saliva will begin to reduce the effects of the acids and enzymes that attack your teeth. However, healthy ones such as celery, apples, leafy greens and carrots increase saliva to defend against cavities.
• Calcium rich foods: Calcium rich foods such as cheese, milk, plain yogurt, low-fat or fat-free milk, and fortified soy milk helps strengthen teeth and bones. The calcium and phosphates in cheese, milk and other dairy products, neutralizes oral acids to eliminate bacteria and help put back minerals your teeth might have lost due to other foods. They balance out pH levels and also help rebuild tooth enamel.
• Teas: Both green and black teas contain polyphenols that interact with plaque and slow down the growth of bacteria associated with cavities and gum disease. Green tea contains catechins that either kill or hold back bacteria while preventing bacteria from growing or making acid that attacks teeth and also helps with bad breath.
• Phosphorus: Phosphorus is a mineral found in fish, eggs, lean meat, dairy, nuts and beans that are good to keep your teeth strong. Fatty fish, such as salmon, tuna and mackerel are also high in vitamin D, containing vitamin A and K2 to deliver calcium to the teeth that help strengthen enamel and also reduces the risk of tooth decay. These types of fish are the food for healthy gum as it also contains omega-3.
• Water: We all know that water is the healthiest drink and is as effective as mouthwash at washing away stuck particles from teeth. Staying hydrated will also keep your gums hydrated while stimulating saliva, distributing nutrients, getting rid of waste, and is the best defense against bacteria all around for keeping your teeth healthy.

Foods you need to avoid for good oral hygiene.

Even if you use oral hygiene products when trying to maintain optimal  oral health you will need to avoid foods that are doing more harm than good. Below are foods that might be damaging your teeth: 

• Sticky hard candies and sweets: There are hundreds of types of sweets and candies and none are good for your teeth. The sugar-filled sticky sweets and hard candies can cause a tooth to break, damage, decay, and more. You can opt for sugar-free gums as an alternative as sticky candies are tough to brush off and might give bacteria.
• Crunchy starchy foods: Potato chips and soft breads are the foods that can get trapped between your teeth. If you’re fond of potato chips and other crunchy snacks, you might need to adequately floss at night as you might be trapping a lot of excess food between your teeth.
• Carbonated soft drinks: These carbonated soft drinks are loaded with sugar which are the leading source of increased plaque bacteria on your teeth. Soda and cola are also highly acidic that wear away tooth enamel and increase risk for cavities as well as result in tooth decay.
• Substances that might dry out your mouth: Alcohol and many medicines can cause a mouth to dry out and dehydration. Drinking excessively can cause your saliva production to be reduced, tooth decay and also gum diseases. However, if medicines are causing your mouth to dry out then you will need to talk with your dentist or dental care provider on whether to get a fluoride rinse, or a fluoride gel for brushing your teeth.