Top 10 Best and Worst Foods and Drinks for Your Teeth and Gums

It is essential to understand that the foods and drinks you consume daily can have a positive and negative effect not only on your well-being but on your oral cavity as well. That’s why it is essential to put sufficient attention to your diet.

In addition to a healthy diet, you need to maintain proper oral hygiene and contact the leading dentists for dental exams regularly if you want to avoid oral issues. That’s why you should be aware of these top 10 best and worst foods and drinks for your teeth and gums.

There are a lot of foods and drinks that help strengthen your teeth and gums. That’s why it is better to include them in your diet or increase their consumption.

Crunchy fruits and vegetables can help remove dental plaque and bacteria from your oral cavity. Their consumption also increases salivation that is necessary for healthy teeth and gums. Additionally, fresh fruits and vegetables are rich in various nutrients and fiber. 

Dairy products (milk, hard cheese, cottage cheese, yogurt, etc.) contain calcium that is essential for healthy bones and teeth. Hard cheese also increases saliva production and normalizes the pH levels in your mouth after acidic foods and drinks. That’s why it is recommended to eat cheese while drinking wine. 

Fatty fish is a great source of omega 3 fatty acids that help keep your gums strong and healthy. Additionally, fatty fish contains phosphorus that protects your tooth enamel. That’s why you need to add fatty fish into your diet. 

Water is essential to any part of your body including your oral cavity. Insufficient water consumption can cause dry mouth and gum issues that may result in bacteria overgrowth. You can take a few sips of water after a meal to remove food debris from your teeth. 

Green tea contains polyphenols that are extremely beneficial to your gums. The reality is that polyphenols have anti-inflammatory properties. This means that green tea can help you ease the symptoms of gingivitis. 

It is important to understand that many foods and drinks you consume can have a negative effect on your teeth and gums. If you want to have a healthy oral cavity, you need to avoid or at least limit the consumption of the following foods and drinks. 

Even though citrus fruits are full of vitamins, they can weaken your tooth enamel. The reality is that citrus fruits are acidic and these acids can soften and wear out tooth enamel. Excessive consumption of citrus fruits can result in teeth sensitivity and other complications. 

Hard candy is made of sugar that increases the number of bacteria in your oral cavity. These bacteria produce acids that cause tooth decay. Additionally, you can break a tooth or injure your gums while chewing hard candy. 

It may seem like tomato sauces are harmless but the reality is that they contain a lot of sugar and acids. This combination can affect your teeth and gums because sugar feeds on the bacteria and acids soften the tooth enamel. 

Alcohol beverages, especially spirits, can reduce salivation and lead to mouth dryness. Sour alcohol drinks like wine contain acids that soften your tooth enamel. Additionally, high pigmented drinks can stain your teeth. 

Potato chips contain starch that turns into sugar in your oral cavity. You should also know that chips can get stuck between your teeth and create a perfect environment for bacteria overgrowth.