Healthy Drinks = Healthy Teeth

Did you know that staying hydrated is good for your whole body, including your teeth? Not only is water devoid of sugar, but it helps strengthen your teeth and wash away food particles that can get stuck to your teeth after eating. These food particles feed bacteria in your mouth which leads to the formation of plaque and ultimately, cavities. If you can’t carry a tooth brush around with you all day, swishing with some water after a meal or snack on the go is always a good plan.

If you’re bored with regular water and need to mix it up, try a flavored water or seltzer. While carbonated water won’t harm your teeth, the fizzy drinks should be consumed sparingly if they contain added sugar or acidic flavoring so always read the label before purchasing.

Milk is another great drink option for healthy teeth. Milk and other dairy products are rich in calcium which strengthens bones and teeth. Milk also contains a protein called casein; a substance that helps fight tooth decay by strengthening tooth enamel. The calcium and phosphorous in milk also strengthen and repair tooth enamel that’s dissolved due to acid.

We all know that vegetables are some of the healthiest foods you could possibly eat, so it makes sense that vegetable juice would also improve your oral health. When buying or making vegetable juice, make sure that you limit the percentage of fruit in the juice, since fruits are high in sugar. Typically, dark green vegetable juices are better for your teeth. Juice that has kale or spinach will contain healthy B vitamins that can help fight against gum disease. Leafy greens are also high in calcium, which boosts your enamel health. If you want your vegetable juice to be a bit sweeter, look for juices that contain a small amount of apple or carrots, as they are sweet and healthy in moderation.