The mouth is the gateway to the body — healthy eating habits and good oral hygiene lead to a happy, healthy life. Did you know that the mouth is highly sensitive to poor health? Poor health can be reflected in the mouth in a variety of ways, including:
- Cavities
- Bad Breath
- Toothaches
- Gum Disease
Eating foods rich in anti-oxidants, complex carbohydrates, and low in sugar will ensure a healthy body, and a healthy mouth. Here are some suggestions on foods to eat, and foods to avoid:
Eat:
- Healthy vegetables such as dark green broccoli and carrots
- Nuts! A healthy amount of nuts protects tooth enamel
- Fruit – focus on eating water-dense fruit such as apples and pears
- Fish – It can be a bit smelly, but fish is high in protein and low in fat
Avoid:
- Sugary Foods – Candy, cookies, cakes, and anything with lots of sugar. Of course, this is almost impossible to avoid. Encourage your children to brush their teeth after eating sugar foods.
- Large quantities of citrus – Citrus fruit is good for you in general, but carries high concentrations of acid and sugar. Encourage your kids to brush their teeth right after eating.
- Fruit juices – the most coveted before-bedtime drink. Fruit juices are high in sugar; make sure to help your kids brush right after drinking them, especially before bed. Learn more about drinks before bed.
- Dried fruit and raisins – not only is sugar content high in these foods, but they can also stick in between teeth and be difficult to remove.