The majority of Americans have been taught from a young age the importance of brushing and flossing to maintain good oral hygiene. We understand that we should brush at least twice a day and floss at least once a day.
Recently, kids in the public school system have started to receive training on how to brush and floss correctly. It is hoped that this will prevent dental problems for those children in their futures.
What many of us are not educated about, children and adults alike, is the different foods that we can eat that will help our teeth and the foods that we eat that will hurt our teeth. Understanding what to eat and what to stray from to help your oral hygiene is very important.
With a better understanding and knowledge of what you should and should not be eating you may be able to prevent a wide range of oral diseases that could adversely affect your teeth. If we would all just choose to eat a little better we would all have better teeth.
Celery is a food that is naturally good for our teeth in more than one way. Carrots have a similar effect on teeth.
First, raw celery and carrots are very crunchy and require a lot of chewing. The extra chewing produces a lot of saliva which neutralizes the bacteria that are inside of your mouth and cause cavity.
The abrasiveness of the chomping will also rub the gums and this rubbing motion will massage the gums and clean between the teeth. Buying a few carrots and stalks of celery is not expensive.
If you buy the celery and the carrots just cut them up and eat them throughout the day as a snack. This snack is not only good for your teeth but also for your body.
Cheese is also very healthy for you and for your teeth. In the last ten years multiple studies have shown that because cheese is low in carbohydrates and high in calcium and phosphate it helps balance your mouth's pH levels.
pH levels indicate the amount of acidic materials in your mouth. This acidic material perpetuates the growth of cavity-causing bacteria.
Just like celery and carrots, cheese will also help your mouth produce saliva which has positive benefits. The enamel on your teeth will also be strengthened and rebuilt from eating cheese.
Instead of making yourself a dessert after dinner try eating a 1-inch cube of your favorite cheese. It will be healthier for your body as a whole.
Catechins are very small substances that kill bacteria in your mouth. The bacteria that these catechins kill is the bacterial that usually turns sugar into plaque.
Green tea has a high concentration of catechins. These little particles also kill the bacterium that causes bad breath in many patients.
Kiwis are a fruit that carry a lot of punch for their small size. They are jam packed full with vitamin C.
If you are not eating enough vitamin C your gums will become more and more weak. Eventually they will not be able to adequately resist the bacteria that are constantly attacking them.
Raw or freshly peeled onions can also do wonders for your oral hygiene. Onions are very acidic and can kill a large number of the bacteria that are residing in most people's mouths.
Many people are surprised that onions are so good for their mouth when they make their breath smell so bad. It is easy to slide a few extra slices of onion in here or there throughout your diet, but you have to make sure that you have something to improve the state of your breath after you at the onions.
Parsley is great vegetable to chew on if you are worried about the way your breath smells. There is a chemical in parsley that travels very quickly to your lungs and it breaks down in your lungs so that when you exhale you are exhaling the parsley breath.
Seeds are another food that many of us venture away from but in reality are really good for us. Many of us do not realize that our ancestors had great teeth before any rules or suggestions about oral hygiene came to be.
Finally, water has a very positive effect on your oral hygiene. It keeps you hydrated and your gums are much more healthy when they are hydrated.
If you do not have the opportunity to brush your teeth after you have eaten, at least make sure to rinse your mouth with water!
Author Resource:-
Terry Daniels is a former dental assistant and has authored hundreds of articles relating to oral health. He worked for a implant dentist in Fort Lauderdale before becoming a guest dental lecturer for the past 15 years.
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