Everyone knows that the best way to fight cavities is to brush and floss on a regular basis.
While nothing can replace proper oral hygiene, the truth is that there are a variety of foods and drinks that can help your body fend off cavities by cleaning your teeth and getting rid of harmful bacteria. Below are some of the best cavity-fighters that you may not have heard of.
Fight Cavities with These Foods and Drinks
Green Tea
Green tea contains powerful compounds known as polyphenols, which have been shown to reduce the amount of harmful bacteria in your mouth. Tea — especially loose-leaf green tea — also contains a small amount of fluoride, which has long been known for its tooth-strengthening properties. For best results, avoid bottled, pre-brewed teas, and go for tea bags or loose tea leaves instead.
Sugar-Free Gum
Everyone knows that sugary sweets are harmful for your teeth, but sugar-free alternatives are an exception to that rule. Sugar substitutes such as xylitol can’t be metabolized by oral bacteria, which means that they don’t turn into the acidic plaque that damages tooth enamel. Some sugar-free gums also contain pycnogenol, a pine bark extract that can decrease plaque and reduce inflammation of the gums.
Leafy Greens
Eating leafy greens such as kale, spinach, and mustard greens isn’t just healthy — it’s also a great way to prevent cavities. Crispy, crunchy vegetables have high water content, and eating them helps to clean food particles and bacterial buildup off of your teeth. Not only that, leafy greens contain a wide variety of beneficial vitamins and nutrients that contribute to oral health, including folic acid, iron, and Vitamin A.
Oil Pulling
Oil pulling is the process of swishing with a tablespoon of plant-based oil, such as olive oil, coconut oil, or sesame oil. Oil pulling helps to draw bacteria away from the surface of your teeth, reaching some of the places that a toothbrush tends to miss. Oil pulling is a wonderful addition to traditional oral hygiene habits, since it promotes healthier teeth and gums, and even helps to fight bad breath.
Milk
Dairy products are rich in protein, calcium, and vitamin D, all of which work to prevent cavities and improve oral health in general. Milks, cheeses, and butters strengthen the structure of teeth and aid in remineralization, helping to protect your tooth enamel from wear and plaque damage. Finally, calcium prevents teeth and bones in the jaw from weakening with age, which can contribute to the formation of cavities and oral disease.
Treating cavities can be an expensive and painful ordeal, which is why the best way to deal with them is to prevent them from cropping up in the first place. Brushing and flossing regularly is the best first-line defense, but the foods and drinks above are an excellent way to supplement your oral hygiene regimen and ensure that cavities don’t take hold.
