The BEST foods and drinks for your teeth

We’ve focused on the food and drinks that are bad for your teeth, but what about the ones that support healthy teeth and gums? Here’s how eating right can help you fend off plaque, gum disease, and gingivitis and keep your gums healthy and your teeth strong!

1. Milk

Your teeth get stronger and healthier when your drink milk, just like your bones. Milk contains calcium, which helps protect your teeth against gum disease, and keeps your jawbone strong and healthy.

2. Salmon

Salmon is a great source of Vitamin D, which is critical in oral health care since it allows your body to absorb and use calcium, a nutrient that protects your teeth and gums from disease. The Vitamin D found in salmon makes it easier for your teeth and bones to get the full power of calcium from the foods you are eating.

3. Strawberries

Strawberries are full of Vitamin C which is required for production of collagen, a key protein that maintains your gum strength and integrity. Just a half a cup of strawberries delivers more than 70 percent of your daily value of Vitamin C! Also, strawberries have a mild bleaching action and can help to remove superficial stains. Be sure to rinse your mouth out after eating strawberries since they are very acidic and acids can erode tooth enamel.

4. Water

Water helps wash away food debris and keeps your saliva levels high. Saliva is your mouth’s best defense against tooth decay because it contains proteins and minerals that counteract enamel-eating acids. Saliva is made up of 95 percent water, so stay hydrated! Water is also a great substitute to sugary drinks, which can damage your teeth and promote decay.

5. Tea

Green tea contains antioxidants called catechins that reduce the body's inflammatory response to the bacteria that cause gum disease. A study found that a daily cup of green tea significantly lowered Japanese men's risk of developing gum disease. The polyphenols in black tea can also help destroy the growth of bacteria that cause bad breath.

6. Yogurt

Yogurt has probiotics, which are believed to aid in the protection of your gums.