One way to care for your teeth is knowing what will affect them. Different things like food and drinks can alter your smile. It is important to know how to care for your teeth to prevent any damage from being done. Here are a few different foods and drinks that affect the health of your smile.

Eating healthy foods not only benefits our physical health but our oral health as well! Different foods will have different effects on the overall well-being of our mouths. Here are two foods to avoid, and two to include in your diet!

Sticky foods like candy or gummies are not good for your teeth. They are known to linger, even after you brush your teeth. Not only that, but leftover food in your teeth can create plaque and cavities. As we all know, plaque and cavities can lead to more damaging oral health conditions. If you choose to eat sticky foods like candied, or even fried fruit, eat it as a part of a meal so extra salvia can help wash it down.

Unhealthy food isn’t the end of the world if you eat it here and there. It becomes an issue when unhealthy food is all you eat. This is because if your body is not receiving proper nutrition your immune system weakens. In addition, your oral health has a direct correlation to your immune system. Your mouth is the main entry for germs and if you are consistently eating poorly, you’re body cannot fight off infection. By choosing healthier foods you are not only taking care of your oral health but your physical health as well.

Foods like fruits and vegetables with fiber in them help keep your mouth clean. Fiber is an active agent in keeping your gums clean. According to the University of Rochester Medical Center , this is one of the best natural defenses against cavities and disease. Dairy is another food group that is good for your teeth. It helps build up the calcium your teeth need to stay healthy!

Not only are there foods that are bad for your teeth, but drinks as well. Here are common drinks that are not the best for your oral health, and some that are!

Soda is one of the number one causes for cavities amongst teens and children. Carbonated soft drinks are mainly sugar and can quickly wear away tooth enamel. In addition, soda can lead to dehydration which is not good for your health.

Alcohol is known to dry out your mouth, just like soda. When your mouth is dried out, saliva won’t produce as quickly. A decrease in the saliva is not good for your oral health. Salvia is one of the main ways your mouth gets rid of leftover foods that get caught in your teeth.

One of the best things to drink for your health is water! Water keeps you hydrated and will help with saliva production.

For more information on the best foods and drinks for your overall oral health, check out South Holston Dental online here. At South Holston, we specialize in a variety of treatments and make sure our patients get what they need. If you’d like to schedule an appointment you can call us at (276) 466-9800 today! We’ll help you take care of your smile.