Every year, countless people resolve to lose weight, and an effective weight loss plan almost always includes significant dietary changes. Often, such positive adjustments do much more than allow your body to shed some excess pounds. Making smart choice about what you eat can also have a big, positive effect on your oral health. A dentist is here talk about some foods that can help your waistline and your smile.
Leafy Greens
Leafy greens, like kale and spinach, are packed full of nutrients. They can help you feel full without subjecting your body to a high caloric load. They also have significant oral health benefits. For example, they have lots of calcium, which is good for fortifying the teeth. Some of their other nutrients play a role in helping your body fight off infections, including gum disease.
Dairy
Dairy gets a bad rap sometimes, but many dairy products can be good for both weight loss and your smile. Milk is a great way to keep your body hydrated, and it includes essential nutrients, like vitamin D and calcium. Those same nutrients are vital for keeping the teeth strong and healthy. If your diet doesn’t allow you to drink milk — for example, if you are trying out a keto lifestyle — you can reap all the benefits of dairy when you snack on cheese.
Crunchy Fruits and Vegetables
Crunchy fruits and vegetables, including celery, carrots, and apples, can slow down your eating process and give your body time to register that it is full before you accidentally overindulge in food. They are also wonderful for oral health because their rough texture helps to scrape plaque and bacteria off the teeth, which can help to prevent both cavities and gum disease.
Dark Berries
Fruits, including dark berries like blueberries and cranberries, have a high water content. The water helps you to stay hydrated and feel full without consuming a lot of calories. However, you might say that it seems counterintuitive to eat berries for the sake of your oral health. After all, they have quite a bit of sugar. But dark berries are actually good for your teeth because they are chock full of antioxidants and can fight harmful bacteria in the mouth. Just be sure to rinse your mouth with water after eating berries so you can minimize the amount of sugar that might be lingering there.
Nuts
Many dieters avoid nuts because they are so high in fat and calories. However, several studies have shown that regularly eating nuts is not associated with weight gain; nuts can even help to prevent weight gain. Plus, the unsaturated fats in nuts have been shown to lower the risk of a number of serious diseases. Many varieties of nuts even contain vitamin D, which helps your body — and your teeth — truly benefit from calcium. Another way nuts are good for your teeth is that chewing them can encourage saliva production and help to rinse out your mouth.
How are you doing with your 2020 health goals? Incorporating more of the above-listed foods into your diet may make you slimmer and give your smile a boost.
About Us
At Pelican Landing Dental, we have a team of four highly trained dentists who are proud to serve the Bonita Springs community. We offer a broad range of services, including general and preventive dentistry. We are always happy to share our knowledge with patients. If you are looking for tips on how to design a smile-friendly diet, contact us at 239-948-2111.
