When people get rid of certain types of food from their daily consumption, it is only natural that they would be thinking about the effects of these adjustments on their overall health and comfort. In an era where a lot of health problems are associated with what we consume, our society is increasingly becoming health-conscious.
Transitioning to a plant-based diet is a huge step. Not only does it promote good physical health but it also plays a crucial role in your dental health. Here are a couple of plant-based foods that can help your teeth and gums. By consuming the following leafy alternatives that have a reputation for promoting better oral health, you can actually make your next dental appointment to a good orthodontist in Singapore a little less agonising. Read this instalment for more insight.
Greens
Greens such as kale and spinach are known for their weight loss benefits. Nevertheless, they have a positive effect on your oral health as well. They are rich in calcium, which strengthens the enamel of your teeth. Strong tooth enamel reduces the risk of cavities and tooth decay. A good way to introduce leafy greens as part of your diet is to add some spinach on your pizza or add some kale to your smoothie.
Mushrooms
You need Vitamin D to absorb calcium. Sunshine converts a prohormone in the skin to Vitamin D. Longer working hours and an increasingly indoor lifestyle all add up to us not getting adequate vitamin D from the sun. But do you know you can get a significant amount from food? Well, mushrooms are an ideal source. Vitamin D will help to strengthen your tooth enamel and fight tooth decay, build strong gums and boosts your immunity to fight nasty bacteria.
Sesame seeds
Sesame seeds not only add tantalising flavour to your bread or cakes, they actually serve your mouth quite well by cleansing your mouth of food particles that if left unchecked, could lead to plaque buildup. Furthermore, they are also rich in calcium, zinc, iron, magnesium, iron, copper, selenium, and phosphorus.
Celery
If you have previously eaten celery, you know that chewing it takes quite some time owing to its thick texture. While you might be concerned about the prolonged amount of chewing, in reality it’s a good thing. This is because chewing stimulates increased secretion of saliva in the mouth. Increased saliva is responsible for maintaining a more balanced pH level in your mouth. Plaque buildup leads to tooth decay and a host of dental diseases such as gingivitis and periodontal disease. Essentially, a healthy, balanced pH level allows your body to fight off any cavity buildup in the mouth.
Fruits
Do you know that eating fruits can boost your dental health, and even whiten your teeth?
Strawberries
Strawberries contain malic acid which helps to get rid of surface stains on your teeth. Moreover, they also feature antioxidants that curtail stain-attracting bacteria.
Pineapple
Bromelain is a naturally-occurring enzyme found in pineapples which boasts of effective anti-inflammatory and stain-removing properties. In fact, some stain cleansing toothpaste feature pineapple derivatives as a part of its ingredients.
Apple
An apple a day not only keeps the doctor away but also the dentist. Apples are rich in fiber and water. When eating an apple, there’s an increased production of saliva in your mouth, consequently rinsing away food particles and bacteria that cause plaque buildup. While eating an apple shouldn’t replace the practice of brushing your teeth, it can come in handy until you get the opportunity to brush.
Conclusion
Based on the above-mentioned information, it’s clear that plant-based foods can provide you with the necessary nutrients that you need for healthy gums and teeth. Foods like strawberries, apples, celery, mushrooms and leafy greens should be part of your diet as they play a crucial role in reducing the risk of oral cancer and the need for braces. Chewing plant-based foods exercises the jaw and mouth muscles, stimulates and massages the gums, and enhances the functional alignment of the teeth whereby the opposing teeth interdigitate nicely. Chewing natural foods with naturally occurring abrasives also help flatten the rounded contours of the teeth when they rub against each other during mastication. This also reduces the size of the tooth crown a little, providing space for crooked displaced teeth. The flattened parts of the enamel of adjacent teeth brace against each other, providing stability to the dental arch, and reduce the tendency of teeth to slip out of alignment. Your overall health and oral health will benefit massively much to your delight.