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Posts Tagged ‘healthy foods for teeth Leeds’

A Healthy Diet for Beautifully Healthy Teeth

Friday, August 26th, 2016

2370471_sThe foods you eat can actually have a big impact on how your mouth looks and feels. Our mouths convert sugar into acid, which then attacks our tooth enamel and this can lead to mean old tooth decay. Whenever we eat, we expose our teeth to the possibility of decay, but of course we need to eat to fuel our bodies! There are some delicious foods that are good for your teeth, so you can still enjoy your grub without compromising your teeth.

Tooth-friendly treats

Calcium is a big enamel-protector and you can find it in meats (especially chicken), cheese, milk and nuts. Crisp fruits and vegetables like apples and carrots are good for your teeth because they’re full of water, so their natural sugars aren’t as harmful. These crunchy delights also help your mouth to produce saliva, which helps to keep tooth decay at bay by washing cheeky bits of food debris from your teeth. Acidic citrus fruits are good for you, but make sure you eat them as part of a meal with other healthy foods, because their high acid content can be harmful to your teeth.

Drinks-wise, milk and water are your teeth’s best friends.

Enamel enemies

And now for the baddies. Hard sweets like lollipops and other sugary sinners like cakes and biscuits are not so good for our teeth. As well as being packed with sugar, these foods can be sticky and make a good breeding ground for bad bacteria. Be careful with cough sweets too!

When it comes to drinks, try and avoid sugary, fizzy drinks, coffee and sweetened tea. Sipping sugary drinks throughout the day is a recipe for disaster because that will just expose your teeth to potential damage all day long. Coffee and red wine can stain your teeth, so you might want to watch out there too.

A Healthy Diet for Healthier Teeth

Sunday, October 11th, 2015

2429879_blogDiet is an important factor in how your mouth looks and feels. Sugar is converted  to acid in the mouth and this attacks tooth enamel, leading to tooth decay. Every time we eat our teeth are exposed to potential decay, and watching what we eat and drink can help prevent this process.

Healthy foods for teeth

Some foods contain calcium, which helps protect tooth enamel. These foods include meats (particularly chicken), cheese, milk and nuts. Vegetables and crisp, firm fruits such as apples are good for teeth as they contain a large amount of water. This lessens the effect of any sugar contained in them as well as helping the mouth produce saliva. Saliva is helpful in preventing tooth decay as it washes away bits of food debris in the mouth. If you are eating acidic things like lemons or other citrus fruits, try to have them as part of a meal, so the effects of the acid they contain is minimised.

Sugary foods

Foods that are bad for teeth include hard sweets such as lollipops, as well as other items with a high sugar content such as cakes, crisps or dried fruit. As well as being high in sugar, these foods have the potential to stick to your teeth and provide a source of fuel for any bacteria in the mouth. Take care when taking cough drops as they will coat teeth in sugar in the same way as other sweets.

What about drinks?

In terms of drinks, the best things for your mouth are milk, water and tea that does not contain sugar or sweetener. Try to avoid too many sugary or fizzy drinks, as well as coffee and sweetened tea. Do not sip sugary drinks throughout the day, as this means they are constantly being exposed to sugar. As well as preventing tooth decay, try to avoid staining by watching your consumption of red wine and coffee. If you would like to speak to one of our oral hygienists please contact the team at City Dental Leeds.

 

Six Foods You Should be Eating for a Healthier Smile

Friday, February 20th, 2015

2429879_blogOur diets play an important part in the maintenance of our oral health. To prevent tooth decay and gum disease and keep your smile looking beautiful, we need to watch what we eat. Here are some suggestions for a good healthy teeth diet:

  1. Green tea

Green tea hydrates the body, is rich in antioxidants and is completely sugar-free. It has been discovered that those who regularly drink green tea have a lower risk of developing gum disease. If you don’t like the taste of green tea, try to add a splash of lemon or a sprinkle of ginger to make it more appealing.

  1. Cheese

Cheese is a brilliant source of calcium and has a high pH value. This helps with the protection of enamel by neutralising acidity found in the mouth. If you eat or drink something acidic, such as wine or fruit juice, it is advisable to eat a little bit of cheese afterwards as a neutralising agent.

 

  1. Chicken

Chicken is a fantastic source of protein, and it also contains phosphorus and calcium. Both of these play an essential role in the maintenance and repair of the bones and teeth. As a hugely versatile dish, chicken is an excellent diet choice as it can be added to almost any meal.

  1. Milk

Milk contains calcium and is an excellent alternative to fizzy drinks and sugary acidic fruit juices, as it helps to neutralise acids in the mouth. Calcium is crucial for healthy and strong teeth and helps to keep your tooth enamel in great condition. It is especially important for children and elderly people at risk of osteoporosis.

  1. Carrots

Eating carrots, especially when raw, increases production of saliva and stimulates the gums. Saliva production is great for cleaning out the mouth and removing leftover food particles. Carrots also contain anti-oxidants and are rich in both vitamin B and vitamin C.

  1. Yoghurt

Natural yoghurt is a great dessert choice as it is low in sugar and rich in calcium, making it a winner for your teeth.