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Eating a healthy and well-balanced diet can provide a variety of different health benefits. These include boosting your immunity, protecting the body from disease and helping control your body weight. The right foods can also contribute to a healthier smile, from teeth to gums. Oral health is crucial to overall health, and should not be disregarded or put on the backburner.
While things like trips to the dentist and a quality dental insurance plan are crucial to oral health, eating the right food can also have its benefits. But which foods are the best not only for a healthy body but also for a great smile? Read on to find out.
Cheese
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One of the best ways to keep your teeth in great shape is to consume calcium. Calcium is crucial for maintaining healthy bone density and keeping your teeth strong. While there are a lot of foods that contain calcium, few have as much as cheese. In addition to having a ton of calcium, cheese is also quite low in sugar, which is also beneficial for teeth.
Casein is also found in cheese, which is a protein that helps to strengthen the enamel on your teeth. The high amounts of phosphate in cheese also contribute to balanced PH levels in the mouth. Other dairy products like milk are also great. If you struggle with lactose-intolerance, there are plenty of fortified soy or nut milk that can have adequate levels of calcium, as well.
Leafy Green Veggies
Another great option for food that is great for both a healthy smile and a healthy body are leafy green veggies. They are not only relatively high in calcium, but have several other benefits as well. They have a variety of vitamins and minerals present that are good for not only protecting teeth but also producing saliva.
Some (such as spinach) also contain vitamin C. While many know that vitamin C is great for fighting off sickness and keeping your immune system healthy, it is also important for overall gum health. These veggies also have very low amounts of calories and are very light, despite how many health benefits they can provide to those who eat them.
Salmon
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Fish, especially kinds like salmon, can also contribute to a healthier smile. They contain a lot of vitamin D, which can greatly help the body absorb calcium easier and more effectively. Dental decay can also be fought off by eating fish, which will help keep your smile looking and feeling great. Salmon can also protect your enamel, thanks to the fact it has phosphorus.
Enamel cannot be grown back, so it is important to protect it. If it is not protected and gets removed one way or another, it can make your teeth much weaker and more prone to chipping, as well as decay and cavities. Fish like salmon and many others are also great for getting your Omega 3 and they can help protect you from heart disease, as well.
Mixed Nuts
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Nuts are another great food and snack for your teeth. Like many other options in this article, they contain both phosphorus and calcium. While many different nuts are solid choices, almonds, brazil nuts and even cashews are perhaps the best. This is because they can help to fight off the bacteria that can contribute to tooth decay.
Even better, these nuts are very low in sugar, which can often be an enemy of oral health. Nuts are also generally quite low in carbs. Also, the act of actually eating crunchy nuts can make teeth stronger and help to remove any deposits of bacteria. While there are many kinds of nuts with different flavoring on them, in general, raw nuts are the best choice for the best benefits.
Yogurt
If you’re not a fan of cheese, a great substitute when it comes to a dairy product is yogurt. Like cheese, yogurt contains a lot of calcium which is outstanding for your bones and teeth. However, yogurt also contains a variety of probiotics. These can help you fight off cavities, as well as assist with gum disease and improve bad breath.
Yogurt is also incredibly delicious and can be eaten and combined in several different ways. It can be eaten on its own, combined with berries or granola, and even made into sauces or salad dressings.
Of course, some yogurt is full of sugar and other additives, so be careful when choosing the yogurt you use. Instead of getting a sugary type of yogurt, get one that is natural and consider sweetening it yourself with honey.
In conclusion, we hope that this article has been able to help you learn about some of the best foods for a healthy smile and body. Each of them can be an important part of a balanced diet.
