Five Surprising Foods That Help Prevent Cavities

Passing up sweet, sugary treats isn’t easy, but it’s necessary if you want to maintain good oral health. Sugar and most many starchy foods cling to your teeth, which causes plaque buildup. Plaque eats away at your tooth enamel, wearing it down and then eating small holes—cavities—into your teeth. So, if you want to protect your beautiful smile, try snacking on food that helps prevent tooth decay instead of food that promotes it.

Sugar-Free Gum

If you need to satisfy your sweet tooth, try chewing sugar-free gum that’s made with xylitol, a sugar substitute. Xylitol is immune to the bacteria that causes cavities and tooth decay. Also, unlike sugar, xylitol won’t metabolize into acid and eat away at your tooth enamel. Even if you’re not a gum addict, you should keep a pack of sugar-free gum that’s made with xylitol handy to use when you eat a meal away from home and can’t brush your teeth right away.

Raisins

If you’re looking for a quick snack, eat a small box of raisins. Raisins are filled with flavonoids and polyphenols that help fight bacteria, reducing your risk for tooth decay and gingivitis. However, raisins are sticky and cling to your teeth, so make sure you brush your teeth right after you eat them.

Cashews

Eating a handful of raw cashews each day is a great way to boost your energy, but did you know that it also helps keep your teeth healthy? Cashews contain phosphorous and magnesium—both of which are beneficial to your teeth. And, they also contain anacadic acid, which kills that bacteria in your mouth preventing tooth decay.

Cocoa Powder

You might find it hard to believe that a tall, ice cold glass of chocolate milk can be good for you teeth, but it can be. Cocoa powder helps harden your tooth enamel, and it also keeps cavity-causing bacteria and enzymes from growing in your mouth. When you add your cocoa powder to milk, which plenty of calcium to keep your teeth strong, you’ve got a sweet drink that’s good for your teeth.

Crunchy Fruit and Vegetables

If you eat crunchy fruits and vegetables at the end of eat meal it helps dislodge food that’s stuck in your teeth, knocks plaque loose to prevent build up and increases your saliva production, which has enzymes and surfactants that help clean your teeth. So, try grabbing an apple or a carrot with each meal to keep your teeth healthy.

Keeping your teeth healthy doesn’t mean giving up all snacks. It simply means choosing the right snacks. By choosing to eat mouth-friendly treats, you’ll avoid more than just cavities. You’ll also avoid disapproving looks from your dentist.