Many people these days are concerned about maintaining good oral health. It’s important for living a long life and preventing extended visits with the dentist or oral surgeon. The condition of your oral health is most dependent upon the foods you eat. People who have diets that are higher in sugar tend to experience more cavities and difficulties with digestion. Cavities can lead to other oral health problems, such as root canals, which are both painful and expensive.
Luckily, there are many raw foods that are suitable for maintaining good oral health and proper digestion. What follows is a summary of four raw foods that are excellent for maintaining oral health and digestion.
Cheese
Eating cheese naturally raises the pH in your mouth, which helps lower your risk of tooth decay. This was tested in a study published in the May/June 2013 issue of General Dentistry. The chewing required to eat cheese raises the amount of saliva in the mouth, which is a neutralizer and would help raise the ph. Cheese also has plenty of calcium and protein, two ingredients that help strengthen tooth enamel.
Yogurt
This breakfast favorite is also full of calcium, which is healthy for your teeth’s hardness and overall condition. The probiotics in yogurt, which are essentially beneficial bacteria, help to crowd out the bad bacteria in your mouth that causes gum disease. Not all yogurts are created equal though — be sure to choose one with limited sugar content.
Leafy Greens
Low in calories and full of vitamins and minerals, leafy greens are great for achieving better oral health. They’re high in calcium, like the above-mentioned yogurt and cheese, and they contain folic acid, a B vitamin that helps treat gum disease. Greens make a healthy, versatile addition to many foods, including pizza and smoothies. Professionals, like those at Williams Landing Dental Clinic, know that raw foods are always much better at sustaining positive health than processed junk. Many dentists recommend eating raw foods like leafy greens to promote better oral health and digestion.
Apples, Carrots, and Celery
These fruits and vegetables have several things in common. One, they’re fibrous and crunchy, which increases saliva production in your mouth, which aids both with digestion and raising the pH of the areas around your teeth, reducing your risk of cavities. Apples and carrots are also high in fiber and an excellent source of vitamin A, which helps promote good digestion. Celery is full of water, as are carrots and apples. Celery helps scrape food and bacteria away from your teeth and it’s high in antioxidants, including vitamins A and C, which keep your gums healthy.
When you take the time to integrate these four foods into your diet, you can enjoy better oral health and more regular digestion. What you eat each day makes a big difference to your teeth and your overall health.