Take for example the loving mom who wants to encourage the little ones to have a healthy snack. She offers some dried fruit, maybe in the form of raisins, pineapple or cherries. While these do have health benefits they are also sticky foods that become lodged in the grooves of the teeth. The sugars contained in these foods keep acid production going and if repeated regularly can lead to tooth decay. Another common snack food for toddlers and young children are gummie snacks or fruit snacks. Because these are sticky they are also very common culprits for causing tooth decay.
Carbohydrates are also converted to sugars as they sit in the grooves of teeth and in between teeth causing the teeth to become vulnerable to attack by acids. Common snacks like crackers and cereal need to be followed by flossing and brushing to help prevent cavities from forming. We have to be aware of how long we are leaving residue from foods on our teeth and allowing decay causing bacteria to attack the teeth. It is a good idea to limit the eating of sugar containing food items to mealtimes only. The flow of saliva is increased at mealtimes and helps to neutralize acids more quickly. Saliva circulates in the mouth and is normally capable of "rinsing" acids from the teeth.
Juice, soda and the ever popular sports drinks are some of the most common causes of decay in teens and young adults alike. These drinks are high in sugar content and/or acid content and are commonly sipped all day long. Sipping these drinks throughout the day does not allow the body to naturally protect itself by removing the acid from the teeth with saliva. The saliva is constantly being replaced with the sports drink soda or juice leaving the teeth vulnerable. These drinks are best to be consumed with a meal or in a short time frame so that the saliva can protect the teeth as intended. It helps to follow these drinks with a swish of water to rinse some of the acid from your teeth.
We also need to use some caution in daily consumption of acidic fruits like grapefruit, lemons and limes. These foods can cause erosion of tooth enamel when consumed on a regular basis. Avoid sucking on lemon and lime slices as they have a very high acid content.
So you're probably beginning to wonder what in the world you can eat that is not going to be harmful to the teeth and I do have some answers for that! Foods that are rich in Vitamins A, C and D are vital to healthy teeth and gums. Vitamin A has been linked to the healthy formation of teeth and skin. It also contains antioxidants that protect the body from free radicals which cause disease. Vitamin D forms after being exposed to sunshine and is found in food sources as well. It promotes calcium absorption which is essential for strong teeth and bones. Vitamin C promotes healthy teeth and gums, boosts the immune system and is also an antioxidant.
Take a look at the list of Vitamin rich foods below and keep in mind that what we eat DOES affect you and your health.
The BEST foods for healthy teeth are cheeses, chicken, nuts and milk!!! And WATER, WATER, WATER.
Vitamin A Foods * Liver, sweet potatoes, carrots, mango, spinach, cantaloupe, mozzarella cheese, egg yolks and milk.
Vitamin C Foods * Red and green hot chili peppers, guava, bell peppers, herbs like thyme and parsley, dark leafy greens like kale, mustard and garden cress, broccoli, brussel sprouts, kiwi fruit, papaya, oranges, clementines/tangerines and strawberries.
Vitamin D Foods (Fat Soluable - needs to be eaten with fats to absorb) * Cod liver oil, Fish with raw Atlantic Herring providing the most vitamin D, fortified cereals, oysters, cavier, fortified tofu and soy milk, salami, ham and sausages, fortified dairy, eggs and mushrooms.
