Proper nutrition is the key to health and longevity. What we eat directly affects the functions of the body, all human cells and organs. This also applies to oral health. But which products for enamel are useful and which are harmful?
The power of proper nutrition
To maintain the attractiveness of the smile, it is important to follow a few simple rules. These include daily hygiene, regular visits to the dentist, and a balanced diet. A well-balanced diet can solve many problems. Consumption of the right foods has the following effects on oral health:
- prevents the destruction of bone structures;
- is the prevention of dental caries and other diseases;
- fights plaque and pathogenic bacteria;
- massages the gums;
- improves mucosal function.
Food is not a panacea for all ills, it does not guarantee that the teeth will be strong and healthy. However, it is an important part of the prevention of dental problems, together with other methods gives impressive results.
What to include in the menu to preserve enamel
Poor hygiene and poor diet are often the cause of enamel thinning. To prevent or suspend the process of destruction of the protective shell of the teeth, you need to add to the diet:
- Green vegetables. Many of them contain a large number of useful elements and fiber. At the moment of chewing vegetables, saliva is produced, which washes away bacteria, naturally cleaning teeth from plaque.
- Natural yogurt and cheese. Dairy products are rich in casein, which is a source of calcium and phosphorus. These two minerals are especially important for strengthening the hard shell of the teeth.
- Fish and seafood. Dentists believe that the effects of regular consumption of omega-3 fatty acids are comparable to deep fluoridation. Seafood contains many vitamins and trace elements. Shellfish are especially rich in iodine, calcium, phosphorus and fluoride. Therefore, to prevent the destruction of enamel, it is necessary to necessarily consume salmon, trout and other varieties of fish, as well as a variety of seafood.
- Green tea. It contains catechins (strong antioxidants), 20 amino acids, fluoride, calcium and other trace elements. The drink has a positive effect on enamel, freshens breath, kills pathogenic microbes, protects the surface of the teeth.
- A separate point is worth emphasizing the useful properties of water. Properly adjusted drinking regime promotes the secretion of saliva, neutralizing harmful microorganisms.
Foods and beverages that color enamel
There are many factors that affect the color of teeth, and one of them is food dyes. The list of beverages and foods that can negatively affect a whiter smile includes:
- Coffee and black tea. These two favorite drinks of many people are the “real enemies” of white enamel. Coffee contains cocoa butter, saturated carbohydrates, sugars, and tea contains a large amount of tannins. All these substances have a negative effect on the teeth. Coloring pigments actively penetrate into the porous structure of the protective layer, and the enamel gradually becomes yellow or dark brown.
- Carbonated drinks. A huge amount of sugar and acids wash out calcium, gradually destroying the upper layer of teeth. In addition, dyes settle in the dental tissue, because of which microcracks and caries appear.
- Natural juices. Drinks from freshly squeezed fruits and berries are of great benefit to the body, but at the same time can adversely affect tooth enamel. This is because of the acids that can lead to loosening and discoloration of the tooth surface.
- Beets. Despite the fact that the vegetable is useful, it contains a lot of chromogens that will instantly stain the surface, and if you do not brush your teeth immediately after use, the whiteness of the smile will not return for a long time.
- Candy, gum, and fruit ice. The amount of artificial colors and sugar in these products is simply off the scale. Therefore, it is better not to consume them at all, if you want to save your health.
- Wine (both red and white) also has a bad effect on enamel. The first includes tannins, which quickly color the surface, leaving ugly stains. Drinks from white grape varieties have a lot of organic acids that contribute to microcracks and susceptibility to temperature fluctuations.