We all know that there are certain foods and drinks that are really bad for your smile; sugary snacks, for example, and all tobacco products. However, did you know that there are certain foods and drinks that are actually good for your oral health? Our Tinley Park dentists are here with some dietary tips that can help you maintain a healthy mouth day to day. Let’s get started!
The first thing that you can do to safeguard your smile is to drink plenty of water throughout the day. Staying hydrated is obviously good for your whole-body health, and, hydration is critical to maintaining a healthy mouth, in particular. When you drink water, you actually help to boost your body’s natural ability to produce saliva; saliva works to neutralize plaque and re-mineralize teeth. Plus, whenever you drink water you flush out food particles and dental debris from those hard-to-reach places in your smile.
When you find yourself reaching for a snack during the day, try to choose water-rich and crunchy vegetables. By chomping on veggies like carrots or celery you are able to physically scrape plaque from your dental enamel, which gives you a quick smile refresher. And, again, because these vegetables have a lot of water in them, they help to hydrate you and prompt saliva production.
There are also some foods and drinks that provide additional oral-health-boosting properties. Garlic, for example, contains antibacterial Allicin. So, while garlic is a little stinky, it can actually help you fight oral bacteria. Green tea is another smile-supporter because it includes catechins, which neutralize oral bacteria.
Our Tinley Park dentists are here to help you make the best decisions for your smile every single day. To get more information, and to schedule a personal consultation, please contact our dental team by phone or through our Contact Us page!