Eat to Keep Teeth Healthy with these Dentist-Approved Foods and Drinks

Kids aren’t the only ones that love to eat sweets and snacks. Adults also crave these foods, but they can harm your dental health.

Sink Your Teeth into the Truth about Eating

While your dentist has always told you that sweets are bad for your teeth, there are other foods and drinks that can do just as much damage. Any food or drink that contains sugars, starches, and acids can lead to tooth decay, gum disease, and very bad breath. If you don’t regularly clean your teeth, the sugars and starches in food can cause your teeth to decay, while the acids can wear away your delicate tooth enamel. And the lack of good dental care can cause very bad breath. Since it’s unrealistic to think that you’ll cut out all of these foods, only try to have them occasionally but strive to practice the following healthy dental habits.

Eat to Beat Tooth Decay and Bad Breath

There’s no denying that sugary, starchy, and acidic foods and drinks are very bad for teeth, but there are also many foods and drinks that are good for your dental health. According to family dentistry experts, most healthy foods and drinks have vitamins and minerals that support dental health. To maintain a healthy smile and make seeing the dentist a pleasure, try to choose foods from this list of tooth-friendly choices:

• Milk
• Certain cheeses
• Lean meats
• Vegetables
• Fruits
• Nuts
• Whole-grain breads and cereals
• Water

Feed Your Family Healthy Habits

While healthy eating habits are essential for good dental health, it’s just as important to practice good dental care habits at home and see an affordable dentist regularly. To help your family develop a healthy oral hygiene routine, follow these simple dental care tips:

• Cut back on sugary and acidic foods, such as sweets, starchy snacks, juices, sodas, coffee, tea, and sports drinks.
• Try to get your family to limit eating to meal times to prevent sugars and acids from clinging to their teeth all day.
• If you or your kids need a snack, choose a healthier option.
• Make sure everyone in your family brushes their teeth at least twice a day and flosses daily.
• Schedule regular appointments with an affordable dentist for everyone in your family. For maximum convenience, find a family dentistry practice that treats both adults and children.

To learn about our family dentistry practice in Owings Mills, call Valley Dental Associates today at (443) 898-1240 or make an appointment.