Summer is often a time for some well-deserved rest and relaxation, vacationing, and all around good times. It can be easy to forget about simple things like your dental health when you’re trying to enjoy yourself, but good oral health is a daily commitment. Aside from maintaining your oral home care routine, you want to make sure you aren’t over-indulging in tooth-damaging foods. Better yet, when planning your picnics and barbecues, keep these foods in mind that can help keep your teeth strong.
Leafy Vegetables
It should go without saying that vegetables are a good option for those who are tooth-conscious. They benefit every other part of the body, and your teeth are no exception. Spinach and kale, are especially abundant with calcium, a primary component of tooth enamel, as well as folic acid which has numerous benefits for connective tissue such as your gums. Try throwing some spinach on a grilled burger for an added boost to your teeth.
Dairy Products
Although cheese and milk aren’t perfect when it comes to your diet, they are packed with vitamins and minerals that can help strengthen your teeth. Like many vegetables, milk and cheese have lots of calcium—good for strong bones and teeth as well.
Nuts
Aside from containing valuable vitamins such as Vitamin D, the physical act of eating nuts can have some benefits for your oral health. By giving your teeth a mild workout with the crunching action of eating nuts, you are stimulating your salivary glands. Saliva is the tooth’s natural defense system against harmful bacteria. Try replacing croutons with almonds on your next summer salad.
Apples
Not only does an apple a day keep the doctor away, it might keep your dentist away, too. As a fruit, apples are inherently nutritious. Their water content helps cleanse the mouth in addition to their peels and somewhat crunchy nature. Apples act somewhat like nature’s toothbrush by rubbing plaque off of the teeth. Aside from the many ways you can incorporate apples into your summer recipes, a great practice would be to finish each meal with some apple slices.
Salmon
Summertime is a great time for fresh seafood, and salmon is particularly beneficial to your teeth. Salmon has lots of vitamin D and calcium, which act in concert to help bolster tooth enamel.
By incorporating these foods into your summer diet, you can rest easy knowing you are treating your teeth well.
Have questions for your Hesperia, CA dentist? Give our office a call today at (760) 947-7777. We look forward to your call!