Pain Free Dentistry

Resolve to Make Your Oral Health a Priority in the New Year!

Pain Free Dentistry

Resolve to Make Your Oral Health a Priority in the New Year!

A person jumping over large block numbers spelling out 2019 with a sunset behind them

The holiday season is over, and everything is slowly returning to normal. Now is a great time to focus on your New Year’s resolutions. Instead of making general resolutions like wanting to lose weight or saying you want to be healthier, why not get specific and resolve to support your oral health by brushing at least twice a day, flossing at least once a day, and eating foods that are healthy for your teeth, gums, and bones!

Usually, when you hear about food or drink and your dental health, articles focus on what you shouldn’t eat, so let’s talk about some foods that are good for your mouth!

fruits and vegetables

Foods Containing Polyphenols are compounds with antioxidant properties found in natural plant food sources. According to a 2009 article by the National Center for Biotechnology Information, data they examined showed that polyphenols may help prevent oral and degenerative diseases, as well as infectious and degenerative diseases. Studies suggest about 8,000 identified polyphenols can be found in foods such as green and black tea, red wine, coffee, plums, strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, elderberries, and dark chocolate, to name a few!

Fiber-rich Foods – High-fiber foods increase saliva production, which in turn helps neutralize decay-causing bacteria. Some of the most fiber-rich foods include beans, peas, lentils, edamame, pears, artichokes, broccoli, avocados, and flaxseed, but many more suit every taste.

Dairy or Foods High in Natural Calcium – Milk, cheese, and plain yogurt contain calcium and phosphates that may remineralize enamel if you eat dairy products. Other excellent sources of calcium include chia seeds, sardines, collard greens, spinach, kale, almonds, and tofu.

salad

Crunchy Vegetables – Raw, crunchy foods like carrots, apples, and celery are like nature’s scrubbin’ bubbles for the mouth. Chewing them not only stimulates saliva flow but also creates a scrubbing action that helps remove plaque from the exposed surfaces of the teeth. While they won’t replace regular brushing and flossing, they are an intelligent choice when you don’t have a brush handy.

Shiitake Mushrooms – Some studies suggest that shiitake mushrooms, specifically their natural sugar, lentinan, help prevent mouth bacteria from forming plaque and may remineralize teeth. Lentinan has also been studied in Japan for its cancer-fighting properties.

While no food can replace regular professional cleanings and exams, these suggestions may help prevent decay and plaque buildup between visits and improve your overall health. Now, that’s a resolution worth sticking to!

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