What foods you can eat to protect your teeth

You often hear dentists telling you what you should try and avoid eating, but there are lots of foods that are actually good for your teeth. If you’re making changes to your diet and you’re looking for tooth-friendly options to include, here are some of the best foods for your oral health:

Dairy products

Dairy products are great for your oral health because they contain calcium. Calcium is a mineral, which is essential for building and maintaining strong, healthy bones, teeth and nails. Dairy products are also beneficial because they have a high pH value. This means that they can help to neutralise acids in the mouth and reduce the risk of enamel erosion. Good examples include milk, cheese and yoghurts.

Leafy green vegetables

Leafy green vegetables are high in fibre, which is good for digestive health, but they are also an excellent source of calcium. Next time you’re at the supermarket or you’re doing your online shop, add kale, broccoli, cabbage and bok choi to your basket.

Carrots

Carrots are good for your teeth because they contain fibre, they have high water content and chewing on carrots increases saliva production, which neutralises acids in the mouth. Raw carrots are a great snack option and a much healthier alternative to crisps, biscuits or sweets.

Strawberries

Strawberries have numerous benefits for the teeth. They contain vitamin C, which is important for general immunity, and their rough coating is also a natural cleaning tool, which can remove surface stains. Add strawberries to a bowl of porridge for a healthy, hearty breakfast or scatter some berries over natural yoghurt for a tasty, tooth-friendly dessert.