Food for Thought Part 1 – Nutrients for Healthy Teeth

Much of the discussion surrounding oral health is based on what you should be doing to your teeth to keep them healthy. Brushing, flossing, and making regular visits to your dentist are well-known and important habits that help prevent periodontal disease and tooth decay. But, what if we were to tell you that there’s something you can do for your teeth that can be just as beneficial? What if we were to tell you it’s as easy as eating foods with the right nutrients?

The mouth is the gateway to the body, so it should come as no surprise that providing your body with the nutrition it needs is the cornerstone to any successful oral health routine. We all know that sugar is bad because it feeds bacteria and becomes acidic causing decay and inflammation, but what are some of the good things you can feed your body for a gleaming, healthy smile?

Feeding Your Bones

Teeth are the only bone in the body that we can see, yet underneath their enamel shield they are simply bone. Aside from keeping them clean with toothpaste, there doesn’t seem like much else you can do to make sure they are healthy. But, just like all the other bones in your body, you can keep them healthy and strong by consuming several important micro-nutrients. Dairy products are a well-known source of calcium and vitamin D, two nutrients essential to bone health, but there are several other micro nutrients you can feed your body to help your bones remain strong and healthy.

The Role Of Calcium

Calcium is one of the most important minerals the human body utilizes. It is found mostly in our bones and teeth, but is also found in our soft tissues and blood. There is always calcium coursing through our veins because it is responsible for moving our muscles and firing off our nerve responses at a molecular level. If we are not giving our body the amount of calcium it needs, it will be absorbed from the bone so we can continue to function. This is where problems arise for your teeth. If your don’t replenish your body with the calcium it needs to function, your body will absorb it from your teeth and bones leaving them susceptible to cracking, breaking, and decay.

Micro-nutrients For Dental Health

While calcium is the star player in this game, it cannot be utilized or helpful for bone and tooth health without its team of micro-nutrients.

Phosphorus – Phosphorus is another mineral that make up bone and tooth tissues. Most of us receive enough phosphorus in our diets through dairy products, fish, beans, and seeds.

Vitamin D –  Vitamin D helps the body absorb calcium and phosphorus. It helps maintain a healthy level of bone tissue so that the blood can transport the calcium where it is needed for other physiological functions. We can get vitamin D from exposure to the sun as well as in our diets in the form of vitamin D fortified beverages like milk and orange juice, fatty fish such as salmon, cheese, and egg yolks.

Magnesium – Magnesium is another mineral that is important to bone structure. It is a main component of bone along with calcium and phosphorous. We can keep our bones healthy and strong by supporting their integrity with foods rich in magnesium, like bananas, seeds, and green, leafy vegetables.

Fluoride – Fluoride is extremely important for bone health, particularly dental bone health. It helps prevent cavities by strengthening the enamel. You can find fluoride in toothpastes, mouth rinses, and in trace amounts fluoride can be ingested with raw fruits and vegetables as well as in milk and eggs.

Maintaining impeccable oral health doesn’t have to be a difficult task. By brushing, flossing, and making regular trips to your Melbourne, Florida dentist you are halfway to keeping your sparkling smile healthy and strong. To make sure you are doing everything you can for your oral health all you have to do is feed your teeth. By choosing foods rich in nutrients like calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, and vitamin D you can help your teeth be healthy from the inside out, and give your oral cleaning routine the extra boost it needs. If you have any questions about how your diet can affect your oral health please don’t hesitate to contact us today. And also, stay tuned for next week’s blog about which nutrients you can add to your diet to support your periodontal health.