According to the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, 92% of adults have had at least one cavity in their teeth. Because of our ever increasing desire for junk food and our continued shirking of common sense dental hygiene, our collective dental health is decreasing at an alarming rate, leading directly to more than $108 billion being spent on general and cosmetic dentistry procedures annually.
While our diets can certainly be a powerful contributing factor to our problems with dental health, and our subsequent need for cosmetic dental work, the truth is that by eating the right foods, you can not only improve your dental hygiene but your health overall.
Four Foods That Can Stave off Cosmetic Dental Procedures
- Crunchy Fruits and Vegetables
You’ve undoubtedly heard that old saying that “an apple a day keeps the doctor away,” but did you know that apples can help keep your family dentist away, too? Apples and other crunchy fruits and vegetables require a lot more chewing to swallow safely, thereby causing more saliva to be produced, as LiveScience.com writes. Saliva is a natural bacteria killer that can keep plaque from growing in your mouth. Furthermore, the rough, fibrous plant tissue works as a natural polish for your teeth.
- Crunchy Fruits and Vegetables
- Good Ol’ Fashioned Milk
Yes, milk helps build strong bones, but as WebMD points out, it can also do wonders for your teeth. As you well know, milk is chock full of calcium and other minerals essential to your health. These same minerals can rejuvenate and strengthen your teeth, helping to reverse the effects of those corn chips you can’t seem to put down.
- Good Ol’ Fashioned Milk
- Tap Water
If there is one thing you should absolutely do to save yourself from cosmetic dental procedures, it’s drinking more water. As Huffington Post highlights, water, particularly tap water, is a potent source of fluoride and other teeth fortifying ingredients. Additionally, water works to rinse acid and sugar from your teeth. Naturally, this helps ward off stains and the damaging effects of bacteria on your enamel.
- Tap Water
- Drink Tea, but Don’t Overdo It
You might read tea on a list of foods good for your teeth and think it’s crazy, but when consumed sparingly, different teas can help keep your teeth strong and vibrant. For instance, a study by the University of Illinois at Chicago found that consuming black tea reduces the prevalence, size, and stickiness of plaque among participants. Just remember not to overdo it; many a tea drinker has gone overboard and wound up having to go in for cosmetic dental procedures for whitening their tea-stained teeth.
So many of our dental health problems stem from our refusal to stick to sensible, healthy food choices. Try incorporating more of these delicious, nutritious options into your regular diet, and you might just be surprised how much you’ll save on visits to your family and cosmetic dentistry professional each year.
