Did you know that your dental health can affect your general health? The health of your mouth, teeth, and gums are critical to your overall wellness. Like many areas of the body, your mouth is full of bacteria, most of which are harmless. Normally the body’s natural defenses and good oral health care, such as daily brushing and flossing, can keep these bacteria under control. However, without proper oral hygiene, bacteria can reach levels that might lead to oral infections, such as tooth decay and gum disease. Studies also suggest that oral bacteria and the inflammation associated with periodontitis (a severe form of gum disease) might play a role in some diseases.
The amount of saliva in your mouth is also important to your dental health. This is because saliva washes away food and neutralizes acids produced by bacteria in the mouth, helping to protect you from microbial overgrowth that might lead to disease. If you notice that your mouth is chronically dry, talk to your dentist or health practitioner.
Here are some things you can do to keep your teeth and gums happy.
Supplements to Help Remineralize Your Teeth
Remineralization is a very effective process that your body naturally undertakes in order to keep your teeth healthy and strong. And just like any other process in your body, it needs the right nutrition to run smoothly. Similar to other parts of our bodies, our teeth sometimes need an extra nutrient boost. There are certain supplements that can naturally help to remineralize your teeth.
If you guessed that calcium is one of the supplements that is good for your teeth, you guessed right. That’s because calcium is the primary building block of our bones and teeth. The trick is to make sure that you are absorbing the calcium you are eating, drinking, or taking as a supplement. Calcium is best absorbed when it is combined with vitamins D3 and K2. Vitamins D and K are also now known to be very important to overall health. Every tissue and organ in the body has vitamin D receptors. Maintaining healthy vitamin D levels will optimize your wellness.
You’ll often see calcium supplements that also contain magnesium. That is because magnesium determines how effectively your body absorbs calcium. As always, it is important to take high quality supplements or you may not experience the expected benefits. LabDoor independently tests the top selling supplements to verify that they contain what the label specifies. They also test for purity and then score each supplement. https://labdoor.com/rankings/calcium You can also get high quality calcium, vitamins D and K, and magnesium supplements from a holistic physicians office and from reputable smaller companies.
Collagen is another important building block of your teeth. Type 1 collagen makes up 90 percent of the organic components of your dentin, cementum and bone. Collagen is mostly found in animal products, especially connective tissues and organ meat, which we don’t really eat much of anymore. This makes collagen supplementation a good idea. An added bonus is that collagen is excellent for gut health, and the high glutamine even helps repair leaky gut, which improves nutrient absorption.
The Best and Worst Foods for Your Teeth
Not all foods and drink are good for your dental health. Certain foods can erode teeth enamel and promote tooth decay. On the other hand, foods that generate saliva and require some serious crunching are beneficial, helping rid teeth of stains and prevent decay. Foods that fall into this category include celery, carrots, cucumbers, and other crunch vegetables.
Chia seeds promote dental health as well. Chia seeds are mainly known for their supportive qualities on digestive health and boosting energy, but chia seeds contain vitamins and minerals healthy teeth love, like calcium, vitamin A, fiber and phosphorous. An added benefit is that they are easy to incorporate into your diet. Chia seed recipies are abundant or you can simply add a tablespoon of chia seeds to your smoothie.
As discussed above, foods that contain calcium and vitamin D support tooth remineralization. Quality organic dairy products not only deliver calcium but also casein, which is a protein that strengthens and repairs tooth enamel. Cheese is particularly high in casein. You can get vitamin D naturally from wild caught fish like salmon and sardines. These fish also contain Omega-3 fatty acids which have been found to reduce periodontitis (gum disease).
Another great food for you dental health is coconut oil. Also known as oil pulling, swishing a tablespoon of coconut oil in your mouth for 10 to 20 minutes draws out the toxins that collect in your mouth, helping to prevent tooth decay and create a clean environment where bacteria can’t thrive. When you are done swishing, don’t swallow, but spit the oil out in the trash so that it doesn’t clog your drains. More and more studies are showing that oil pulling reduces the amount of plaque on teeth and improves gum health.
As for bad foods for your dental health, anything acidic takes it’s toll on dental enamel. That includes healthy fruits like oranges, grapefruit, and lemon. You can still eat them, just eat them relatively quickly and rinse your mouth with water afterwards. You might not have thought of pickles as being acidic, but they are as well. Soda pops of all types are also very acidic, but the most acidic drinks are sport drinks. It’s just best to avoid any synthetic drink if you are serious about your health.
Other bad foods for your dental health include white bread and dried fruits. Both of these contain high amounts of sugar and therefore create an environment where bacteria can thrive.
Healthy Brushing
Most people unknowingly brush too hard and cause damage to their dentin and gums. The result is receding gums and more cavities. The best motion for brushing your teeth is a circular motion. Imagine you are massaging each tooth. You don’t want to brush up and down or side to side in a sawing motion, but in a circular motion. It’s also best to buy toothbrushes with very soft bristles and to replace your toothbrush monthly. Nylon is a tough material and can easily damage gums and dentin.
The best time to brush is 40 to 50 minutes after you eat. This is especially true after eating anything acidic, sugary or high in carbs. Brushing too soon could result in pulling tiny bits of enamel off your teeth.
Did this help you? If so, I’d greatly appreciate it if you commented and/or share it on social media.
Email: sharonledwards@hotmail.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sharonledwardsbiz/