Healthy Food

June is hot, and the perfect time to add more garden vegetables to your mouth-healthy diet.  This month, try incorporating some of these gifts from the garden that teeth – and taste buds – love!

Cucumber 

Cucumbers are light and refreshing vegetables that are super versatile and tasty. They are packed full of water, which helps the body produce saliva that helps naturally keep teeth clean and bacteria-free. Additionally, the skin on cucumbers is packed with fiber, which naturally scrubs teeth and helps promote strong tooth enamel. We suggest cutting cucumbers in discs with the rind on, and serving them in salads, or using them as healthy dippers. 

Carrots 

A rabbit’s – and mouth’s – best friend is the carrot. That’s because carrots are absolute dental super foods. They are packed with vitamin K, which helps mineralize tooth enamel and fight tooth decay. They also contain a high amount of vitamin A, which promotes the healthy mucous in the mouth that coats cheeks and gums, which makes them less susceptible to infection and disease. You can bake, sauté, or eat carrots raw – they’re incredibly versatile and good to have around for a number of dishes. For the most benefits, eat carrots raw as a healthy snack. 

Bell Peppers

Beautiful vegetables that come in all colors and sizes, bell peppers are incredible gifts from the garden that make any dish sing – and they’re incredible vegetables for overall oral health. Bell peppers are packed with vitamin C, which is a strong antioxidant that helps heal gums, and fight gum inflammation. You can add raw sliced bell peppers to salads or incorporate them as fun finger foods. They are also excellent when sautéed together with other healthy greens.

Kale 

Kale may be one of the healthiest gifts that your garden has to offer. Iit can help you build strong teeth and bones. Kale is full of magnesium, which helps the body absorb calcium, which is a key building-block in teeth and enamel. Kale is also high in calcium and protein, both of which strengthen teeth. If you want to find a true dental super food, then try kale. You can place it in a salad, lightly bake it and make healthy chips, and it also makes an excellent addition to a fruit smoothie.

Healthy Diets Help Teeth  

Your oral health goals will be much easier to attain with proper dieting that focuses on incorporating more fresh fruits and vegetables. Fundamental oral health processes depend upon adequate vitamins and minerals, and a well-rounded diet is the best way to give your body the nutrition it needs to stay healthy. 

If you’d like to discuss your family’s diet and how it affects your teeth, then schedule an appointment with our office. We’ll help you plan a diet that will help your family achieve their oral health goals.

As a parent, time is often in limited supply. That can lead you to foregoing making a meal, and instead choosing fast food to fuel your family. If you MUST eat fast food, then try making the meal a little healthier with these tips.

Choose Your Drink with Care 

A place where sugar loves to hide is in the beverages that we consume everyday.  When grabbing a quick bite to eat, don’t go for a soda or carbonated drink – which are packed with sugar and acid that can damage and erode tooth enamel. Instead, get a bottle of water or a small bottle of milk, both of which are healthy for teeth.

Try a Side other than Fries 

Listen, everybody loves fries, we all know that. Unfortunately, fries are starchy snacks, which can stick to teeth after meal time has ended. Try looking for fresh fruit sides, or a side salad when choosing a fast food option. Many fast food places have sides that are far healthier than fries.

Avoid Meals with Buns 

Most fast food burgers are served between two generic buns made up of white bread. Unfortunately, white bread is a sticky starch that can stay on teeth long after it is consumed. This can feed bad bacteria on teeth, and lead to tooth decay and cavities. When getting a quick meal, try finding one that doesn’t include a bun.

Try a Salad 

Salads have incredible health benefits, but are also very healthy for teeth! That’s because they’re packed with fresh greens that contain a lot of fiber, which naturally scrubs teeth as it is chewed. Additionally, you can add cheese to a salad for protein and calcium, both of which strengthen teeth! 

Say “No” to the Post Meal Shake 

Getting fast food is a treat for most people, and part that involves treating oneself to a shake for dessert. We advise that you avoid shakes or sugary sweets, and instead choose fresh fruit for dessert. Shakes are loaded with sugar, and often contain more than one person should eat in any given day. Fresh fruit, on the other hand, contains natural sugar and provides more overall nutritional value.

Prepare Your Own Meals 

The best way to get a mouth-healthy meal is by preparing your lunch in advance, and the same goes for children. If you let your children purchase their lunch at school, then they aren’t likely to get a well-rounded nutritional meal. Try making their lunch for them and giving them mouth healthy foods like Apples, Greek yogurt, cheese, nuts like almonds or cashews, and veggies like carrots or celery.