Feb 08 2010
Your Eating Habits Affect Your Smile
When I say your eating habits affect your smile, I don’t mean the faces you make while chewing your food! The food you eat and the way you eat it determine how your dental health is. First, let me acquaint you with the nutrients that are important for healthy teeth.
Let’s start with calcium. Calcium forms the backbone of teeth and bones, you were told this when you were a kid. So, you know, it is important to consume calcium on a daily basis. You can consume dairy products such as milk and yogurt or eat salmon and sardines. If you are vegan, go for soybeans, soy products, and green vegetables such as spinach.
Calcium is not absorbed in our bodies if we don’t get enough vitamin D. The best way to get vitamin D is to get a regular dose of sunlight. Spend a few minutes in the sun everyday. Vitamin D can also be found in fish, egg yolk, milk, soy drinks, and liver.
Fluoride is also important for your teeth. In the US, fluoride is available in the water we drink. Some other sources of fluoride are tea, gelatin, fish and other seafood.
You need Vitamin C too if you want healthy gums. Go for citrus fruits such as lemon, guava, mango, and pineapple. Tomatoes, cauliflower, and papaya are also rich sources of vitamin C.
Include all these nutrients in your meals everyday. Develop good eating habits like the ones mentioned below.
- Consume milk and milk products on a daily basis.
- Eat green and leafy vegetables everyday.
- Eat a fruit or two everyday.
- Bite into a fruit instead of gulping down its juice. If you have to drink juice, use a straw.
- Eat a cube of cheese to end a meal.
- Bite into an apple or a carrot if you want to have a quick snack.
- Avoid drinking carbonated drinks or other sweet beverages.
- Avoid snacking on sweets and sugary food between meals.
- Buy cough syrups that are sugar-free.
Happy smiling!