Advances in Dental Research and Technology Are Fascinating

You may worry about how candy affects your children's teeth. While it's right to want to limit the sugars that touch their teeth, you also need to learn about how foods affect teeth from the inside. Along with having a higher risk of tooth decay, a poor diet makes the sensitive tissues in your mouth less resistant to infection. In turn, you can be at a higher risk for gum disease. Some dental "super foods" will provide more sustainability for teeth. Here are some foods to eat for optimal general dentistry health.

Green Tea

You have probably heard that green tea boosts the immune system and helps people lose weight. According to a Japanese study, it keeps your teeth healthy as well. The study concluded that men who drink green tea are less likely to have periodontal disease. A second Japanese study done on both men and women concluded that people who drink at least one cup of green tea a day will lose less teeth in their life than people who don't drink tea regularly. The tea reduces bacteria on your teeth by removing the bacteria's ability to clump together. This will not only keep your teeth healthy, but keep your breath fresh as well.

Citrus Fruits

Citrus fruits are important for healthy gums. Your gums have collagen, which keeps your gums strong and healthy. Without it, your gums would be tender and susceptible to gum disease. Through your life, the collagen breaks down slowly. The vitamin C in citrus fruits slows the breakdown to keep your gums healthy and disease-free. The acid in citrus fruits also helps keeps teeth white by reversing stains from dark drinks like coffee and wine.

Raw, Crunchy Vegetables

Dog owners give their dogs bones because chewing helps cleanse the plaque off of teeth. Human teeth work the same way. When you chew crunchy food, the plaque gets disturbed and breaks free from your teeth. This helps keep your teeth clean and breath fresh between brushing.  

Cranberries

Cranberries work like tea to keep plaque and harmful bacteria from sticking to your teeth. Unfortunately, you have to be careful not to buy any type of processed cranberry product. Unless they're fresh, they may have sugar added to reduce the tartness. The added sugar will reverse any positive effects that the cranberries have on your teeth.

Milk

Drinking a glass of milk after eating sugary foods is beneficial for your teeth. Sugary foods produce plaque bacteria, and in turn, plaque bacteria produces acid. The milk neutralizes the acid on your teeth. Note that cereal milk won't produce the same benefit. Once it's mixed with your sugar cereal, it become syrupy and extra-sugary itself. Be sure to drink another glass of milk after your morning cereal and after dessert.

Sesame Seeds

Over 35 million Americans are missing all of their teeth. Another 12 million don't have any teeth on one arch. However, most of our Paleolithic ancestors have been discovered with most of all of their teeth in tact. Anthropologists believe that this is due to primitive foods cleansing their teeth. Seeds for example, were a staple in Paleo times. Sesame seeds strip off plaque and help build enamel while you chew them. The seeds also contain a lot of calcium which provides sustainability in your bones and teeth. Adding a tablespoon of sesame seeds to one meal per day will clean your teeth and give you almost 90mg of calcium.

Your oral health isn't just about brushing and flossing. Just because you brush away unhealthy food, doesn't mean it doesn't affect your teeth from the inside. Eating crunchy vegetables, seeds, and fruit will allow you to keep your teeth a lot longer in life—maybe forever. Wash it all down with a glass of milk or tea and you will have stronger, healthier teeth.