Chocolate, sweets and carbonated drinks all contribute to tooth decay, and your oral health is one of the first areas to decline when your diet is less than ideal. Fortunately, there are a number of healthy foods that you can add into your diet to not only help to improve your physical health, but also improve the health of your mouth.
Apples are high in both fibre and water; which is not only great for bowel health, but also encourages saliva production which helps rinse away food and bacteria particles that can contribute to tooth decay. Additionally, the texture of apples is said to stimulate the gums which can help to promote gum health in between brushing.
Plain or Greek yogurt is not only an excellent source of both calcium and protein, but it is also a great source of probiotics. Adding these probiotics or ‘good bacteria’ to your diet is good news for your gums, as the extra good bacteria can help to override any ‘bad bacteria’ that may cause cavities.
Yet another great reason to add leafy greens into your diet is the benefits they have for your oral health. Kale, spinach and many other leafy greens contain calcium, which helps to strengthen your teeth and folic acid, which is a type of B vitamin that is thought to help with gum disease in pregnant women. Other great sources of folic acid include broccoli, turnip greens and asparagus.
Carrots are often praised for their multiple health benefits, and are considered good for the eyes, nails, hair, skin, and immune system. What many people don’t know, however, is that they also have a lot of benefits for your oral health too. Much like apples, carrots act as antibacterial scrubbers towards teeth. As well as stimulating the gums and helping to eliminate plaque, they have also been known to remove stains from the teeth and help to kill germs that may contribute towards tooth decay.
Not only are fatty fish, such as salmon, mackerel and tuna, great sources of D vitamins that are considered essential for bone health, but they also help the body to absorb calcium which is great news for your teeth.
While adding these superfoods to your diet may help your oral health they might not be able to help with a deeper oral health issue that needs to be identified. In some cases, poor oral health, tooth decay and gum disease can be caused by an outside issue that isn’t your fault, such as an avoidable injury caused by a dentist who fails to take the proper care.
If you believe that your dentist may have contributed to your oral health issues, you may be entitled to compensation. At Dental Law Partnership, our team of expert Dental Negligence solicitors are on hand to help you at every step of the way; call us today on 0808 278 8202.