Spring has officially sprung, but there is something else that’s quite important going on this March—it’s National Nutrition Month! It’s a time where healthcare providers of all kinds highlight the importance of what we eat for our overall wellbeing. Thankfully, when it comes to your oral health, there are a number of nutritious and tasty treats out there that are proven to dramatically lower your risk for problems like cavities and gum disease. The next time you’re at the grocery store (or shopping online), be sure to include the following items in your cart.

1. Apples

Apples come in various sizes and colors, and their flavor can range from astonishingly sweet to incredibly sour, but they all have at least one thing in common—they are great for your teeth! Thanks to their fibrous nature, whenever you eat an apple, it actually scrubs your teeth of plaque and other food particles. It also stimulates saliva production, which is your mouth’s natural cleaner. Having an apple as a snack is a great way to stave off hunger and give your smile a thorough cleansing at the same time.

2. Cheese

There are so many different types of cheeses that it’s basically impossible to try them all in a lifetime. In addition to being delicious, cheese also contains valuable minerals like calcium, which is essential for building and maintaining strong tooth enamel. Whether you prefer cheddar, provolone, or Monterey Jack, having a piece of cheese here and there can create a much healthier smile in the long run.

3. Yogurt

Similar to cheese, yogurt can also help fortify your teeth by providing your body with the minerals it needs to make sturdy enamel. The only catch is that you have to be careful and avoid the varieties of yogurt that are packed with added sugar. Be sure to look at the nutrition facts on the package before taking some home. Plain yogurt is your best bet in most cases, and if you need a little sweetness, you can just add a little honey.

4. Teeth-Friendly Sweets

When talking about nutrition and teeth, the overall message tends to be, “Sugar is bad, you should always avoid sugar.” While this is largely true, it’s unreasonable to think that a person should forgo sweets forever. Rather than swearing off sugar for good, make sure that the treats you enjoy are the best variety for your teeth, as in you can eat them quickly and they won’t linger in your mouth for too long. A good example of this is chocolate. You can chew and swallow it in seconds, and it’s easy to rinse out your mouth to remove any leftover sugar afterward. Now, you can enjoy a treat completely guilt-free, just make sure it’s only occasionally!

4. Leafy Greens

When talking about nutrition, it can’t be emphasized enough just how good green vegetables are for your smile as well as your entire body! Foods like lettuce, spinach, kale, and mustard greens are packed to the brim with vitamins and minerals that keep tooth enamel healthy and strong. Plus, they also fill you up without exposing you to excess starch or sugar, meaning you’ll feel less “weighed down” and more energized even after a sizeable meal.

Eating a diet that’s great for your body and teeth doesn’t have to be bland and flavorless. There are many different types of the foods listed above, and with minimal know-how in the kitchen, you can change things up and create completely new dishes that will help your smile shine for years to come.

About the Author

Dr. Adam Cohlmia is a family, restorative, and cosmetic dentist who practices at El Reno Family Dentistry. In addition to providing a comprehensive array of services for patients of all ages, he’s also happy to offer up-to-date diet advice so people can largely avoid cavities and gum disease in the first place. To learn more about tooth-friendly foods and how you can incorporate them into your daily life, give us a call today.