Do you know calcium cannot be absorbed by the body if you don’t have enough vitamin D? Vitamin D essentially comes from spending a couple of minutes in the sun every day. Sources of the vitamin in food are egg yolk, fish, liver, milk, and soy drinks.

Another important nutrient you need for healthy teeth is vitamin C. It helps prevent gum diseases. Guavas, mangoes, pineapples, and lemons are rich sources of vitamin C. You can also eat vegetable like tomatoes, cauliflower, and papaya.

Another important nutrient that helps your meals become balanced is roughage or fiber. Fiber not only helps clean your mouth but also your entire digestive system. And, yes, drink 8-10 glasses of water every day.

Do check with your dentist if you need to add anything specific to your diet.

Eat right and keep smiling!

Your teeth need four main nutrients to remain healthy: calcium, fluoride, vitamin C, and vitamin D. Calcium forms the backbone of teeth and bones. It is important to consume calcium on a daily basis. Dairy products such as milk and yogurt, green vegetables such as spinach, soybeans and soy products, salmon, and sardines are rich sources of calcium. Fluoride is extremely important for your teeth. In US, fluoride is available in the water we drink. Tea, gelatin, fish, and other seafood are some other sources of fluoride. Vitamin C helps prevent gum diseases, thus critical for overall oral health. The chief sources of vitamin C are citrus fruits such as lemon, guava, mango, and pineapple and vegetables such as tomatoes, cauliflower, and papaya. Vitamin D helps the absorption of calcium in our bodies. The best way to get vitamin D is to get a regular dose of sunlight. Spending a few minutes out in the sun everyday should do the trick. Some other sources of vitamin D are fish, egg yolk, milk, soy drinks, and lever.

For a healthy smile, eating right is as important as brushing and flossing.

Happy smiling!

The Good

• Milk and milk products – If you love eating cheese, you are making your teeth strong.

• Fish and meat – Go for fresh fish and meat. Canned varieties do no good.
• Fruits – Bite into an apple or a guava everyday. Make fruits a part of your daily diet.
• Vegetables – Enjoy healthy teeth by consuming all the vegetables you can. Salad recipes are no longer boring. Look up an exciting recipe and make a delectable salad.

Remember that you also need to follow a proper dental care routine to be able to reap benefits of the food you consume.

The Bad

• Sugary food – It is a sin to eat sugary food in between meals. If you have a sweet tooth, eat your sweet or dessert along with a meal, not separately.

• Starchy food – The starch sticks to your teeth, making home for the bacteria. Rinse your mouth and brush your teeth after meals. However, brush only an hour after you have eaten.

The Ugly

• Smoking – You knew we would talk about this, didn’t you? Well, smoking is bad for obvious reasons.

• Frequent consumption of beverages – Too much coffee is neither good for your smile nor for your overall health. Try not to get addicted.

Ask your dentist for nutritional supplements for oral health.

Happy smiling!