Eating healthy is important for your entire body, including your teeth. You’ve heard over and over about the basics of maintain good oral hygiene: brush twice a day, floss daily, visit your dentist twice a year and stay on top of orthodontic appointments. However, in between all of that an important way to keep your mouth healthy you must get foods that help main oral health.
We always advise that patients do not eat hard foods, including nuts, ice, crisp taco shells, whole apples and carrots, corn on the cob because these foods can cause breakage of the brackets and wires. However, we also encourage minimizing the amount of sugar in your diet. We don't suggest cutting down on sugar because it harms your appliance, but because it harm your teeth.
When you eat foods that are not good for your teeth, like sugary foods, you are aiding the production of bacteria formally known as plaque. Plaque is a soft, sticky film that builds up on your teeth and contains millions of bacteria. The bacteria in plaque causes tooth decay and gum disease if they are not removed regularly through brushing and flossing.
Here's what you should include in your diet:
- Eating fiber-rich fruits and vegetables:
- Eating dairy products (ie; cheese, milk, yogurt)
- Drinking black and green tea
- Drinking water
- Eating non-tough meats (such as soft-cooked chicken, turkey, meatballs, lunch meats)
- Eating seafood (including tuna, salmon, cod and crab cakes)
- Eating treats such as pudding, applesauce, bananas, smoothies, fruit juices, jello and ice cream
- Eating grains including noodles, pasta and soft-cooked rice
Remember everything that goes into your mouth has an effect
on your teeth, just make sure it is a positive effect.
