At my dental office in Little Falls, we’re not just focused on making sure your mouth is healthy, we’re dedicated to ensuring your whole body is healthy too. One of the key aspects to living a healthy life is choosing the right foods. Not only can healthy food choices help your body be strong and well, eating the right foods can also lead to a happy, healthy mouth.

Some of the basic rules of nutrition still apply when eating with your smile in mind. You should eat well-balanced meals and continue to follow the food pyramid guidelines. Filling your diet with plenty of veggies and fruits, lean meats, whole grains, and dairy keeps your body balanced and healthy, and most of these foods are great for your grin.

Some of the best foods for your smile, and your body, are:

• Cheese. Cheese is high in phosphate and calcium and helps balance the acidity levels in the mouth. This can help keep keep bacteria away, which prevents cavities and gum disease.
• Celery. Celery is made mostly of water, which is always good for your smile. Chewing on this crispy favorite also produces saliva, which helps neutralize bacteria and keeps cavities away. Additionally, celery can act as an abrasive, cleaning between teeth and massaging gums.
• Apples. Like celery, apples contain a lot of water, which dilutes sugars in the mouth, including the ones found in the apples themselves. They also cause saliva flow to increase, again protecting against decay and washing away food particles and bacteria.
• Onions. Onions are packed with powerful antibacterial sulfur compounds, making them great for your oral health. They can be consumed cooked or raw, but they pack the biggest benefit when they’re eaten uncooked. Just be careful of the onion breath that tends to follow.
• Water.Your dentist in Little Falls will always encourage you to drink more water. Water isn’t only great for your organs and whole-body health, it’s also beneficial to your mouth. By staying hydrated, your mouth is defended against bacteria.

In addition to eating things that are good for your smile, you should also avoid foods that aren’t so smile-friendly. Stay away from, or limit the amount of, sweets, acidic foods, dried fruits, breads, pretzels, popcorn, and cakes and pies. Not only can these foods provide a great environment for bacteria to thrive, which can lead to tooth decay, some can cause tooth damage or even broken/chipped teeth.

Besides eating right, another way to keep your smile in tip-top shape is to keep your regularly scheduled appointments at my Little Falls dental office. We’ll make sure that your smile is in its best condition and ensure that there aren’t any problems lurking in your mouth. Give us a call to schedule your appointment today!

Serving patients in Little Falls, Totowa, and Montclair.