Best Summer Foods for Healthy Teeth
Best Summertime Foods for Optimum Oral Health
Summer is a great time to access healthy food for your teeth! A healthy diet is as important to your oral health as brushing and flossing. But, with the arrival of summer, it is tempting to eat more sugary foods like ice cream to beat the heat. And, with backyard cookouts and carnivals, you may be fighting the urge to eat cotton candy and popcorn and drink beverages full of sugar and carbonation, all of which are not good for your teeth. Summer is also a great time to have one of your bi-annual dental exams for your twice-a-year cleaning!
What are some of the best summer foods for a healthy mouth? At Hamby Family Dental, your Fuquay-Varina dentist, we put together a list of the best foods, especially in the summer, for your oral health.
Fresh Fruits and Vegetables
Summer is the best time all year to go to a farmer’s market and choose from many fresh fruits and vegetables that are in season. Not only are fruits and veggies a crucial part of a balanced diet, but they also contain essential nutrients that help keep strong teeth and healthy gums. Vitamins A and C help strengthen your immune system and help your body fight against gum disease. Green beans, peaches, and summer squash are packed with both of these vitamins. Melons, sweet peppers, and tomatoes are packed with vitamin C.
Fiber is important to your oral health because it stimulates saliva production, which washes bacteria away from your teeth. Some of the best healthy summer foods rich in fiber include apples, figs, plums, and zucchini. Bananas are excellent fruit for your teeth because they are low in acidity and don’t contain seeds that can get stuck in between teeth. They contain minerals like potassium, magnesium, and manganese, which strengthen your tooth’s enamel.
Pears, celery, carrots, and raw broccoli are great substitutes for potato chips at a cookout or gathering. (Try a plate of veggies to go with your dip!) These act like toothbrushes by scrubbing off build-up and, again, stimulating saliva to wash away food that settles in your teeth.
Fruits and Veggies to Start your Grocery List:
Fruits:
- Peaches
- Apples
- Figs
- Strawberries
- Watermelon
- Kiwi
- Melons
- Tomatoes
- Bananas
Vegetables:
- Green beans
- Carrots
- Celery
- Squash
- Zucchini
- Leafy greens like lettuce, kale, and spinach
- Avocados
Dairy
Dairy provides many positive dental benefits because it contains calcium that builds stronger bones and teeth, casein protein that protects tooth surfaces, and phosphorus which supports tooth repair.
Cheese
Summer isn’t the only time to eat cheese! Chewing cheese stimulates saliva flow to naturally clean your teeth. Many summer recipes use cheese such as hamburgers and with fruit. Charcuterie boards that contain cheeses and lean meats are very popular at parties and provide oral health benefits.
Yogurt
Yogurt is a dairy that can be incorporated into many dishes. Eat yogurt on its own with fruit and granola, add it to smoothies, make a dip, or blend with fruit and make popsicles. Greek yogurt, in particular, has probiotics that fight cavities by reducing bad bacteria and germs in your mouth.
Lean Meats and Fatty Fish
With summer being one of the favorite times to put food on the grill, lean meats and fatty fish are healthier alternatives than hotdogs and hamburgers. Incorporating lean meats and fish into your diet can improve your oral health. Chicken, turkey, salmon, and mackerel are major sources of omega-3 fatty acids that promote gum health, reduce inflammation, and help prevent gum disease.
Contact Hamby Family Dental Center to Schedule your Teeth Cleaning Exam
Whether you need a dental cleaning or have a serious dental need and/or emergency, contact Hamby Family Dental Center. Our dentists will take exceptional care in handling your specific issue. We are attentive to making you comfortable while providing the best care possible. Reach out to us and see what a difference we can make. Call us at 919-552-2431 or complete our easy to use contact form below.