5 foods to eat for healthy teeth
Brushing, check. Flossing, check. Mouthwash, check. If you feel like you’re already ticking all the boxes for whiter and brighter teeth, think again. What you eat and drink each day can affect how your pearly whites look. So pop these healthy foods on your shopping list for healthier gums, stronger teeth and a winning smile.
Green tea
This is packed with the good stuff, including some complex compounds called “catechins”. These fight inflammation and help control bacterial infections. So switch one of your daily teas or coffees (which aren’t great for keeping teeth white) and tuck into a cup of green tea instead.
Kiwifruit and strawberries
Our gums need Vitamin C as it keeps them protected from periodontal disease. Citrus fruits are usually our go-to for Vitamin C, but in fact kiwis and strawberries have the highest concentration. They are also quite astringent, meaning they can help reverse the discolouration of our teeth by drinks such as red wine or coffee.
Almonds and brazil nuts
Nuts and seeds are loaded with micronutrients including phosphorous, magnesium, potassium and zinc. They also contain calcium which keeps our bones and teeth strong. Almonds, Brazil nuts, and unhulled sesame seeds are great choices due to their calcium content.
Shiitake mushrooms
It’s believed that the natural sugar lentinan in shiitake mushrooms can help to prevent gingivitis. This condition is an inflammation of the gums, generally identified as redness or bleeding from the gums. Gingivitis can be caused when bacteria builds up in the mouth. The lentinan specifically targets the bad bacteria and leaves the good bacteria alone.
Apples and celery
These are low acid foods that are high in fibre, so they stimulate the production of saliva which in turn keeps the good bacteria in the right place. You actually clean you teeth while eating them too, so tuck in and reap the benefits.