Addressing oral health is paramount in the big picture of our total physical wellbeing. Teeth and gums often can offer clues about other health issues, so regular checkups are beneficial for your whole health in general, not just for your mouth. In much the same way exercise benefits your entire body, regardless of what body part you might be working on, good oral habits are a wise investment and will continue to give back to your whole person, each and every day.

Calcium and vitamin D are important supporters of good oral health. Calcium builds strong, healthy, decay resistant teeth, and vitamin C is an immune boosting antioxidant that assists in building of collagen, which it aids in gum health.

The following foods and drinks can help you achieve a strong healthy mouth and assist in making your dental visits a breeze:

1. Lean meats:

Consuming lean meats, as well as fish, poultry and beans, provides your system with iron, protein, magnesium and zinc for healthy teeth and bones. An iron deficiency can sometimes lead to mouth sores and/or tongue inflammation.

2. Dairy products:

When you enjoy dairy products such as milk, cheese and yogurt, it lowers your chances of getting gum or periodontal disease. It can also help prevent cavities. Some of the calcium and phosphorus found in dairy products can attack the plaque surrounding your teeth to prevent enamel erosion. Cheese has been said to stimulate saliva production in the mouth to help clear away food particles.

3. Fruits and vegetables:

While providing vitamin C, vitamin A and calcium for healthy gums and to protect tooth enamel, fibrous fruits are great for cleaning teeth and stimulating gums. Strawberries are also proficient at whitening teeth, so put away all those man made teeth whiteners! Chewing raw onions is effective against tooth decay, as it kills the germs in the mouth. Foods loaded with vitamin C, like broccoli and red bell peppers create an unpleasing landscape for mouth bacteria, so eat plenty of them to help keep oral disease at bay.

4. Whole grains:

Researchers found that people who ate more whole grains had less incidence of gum disease; this is important to know for those with diabetes and hyperglycemia who often have increased incidences of these health issues.

5. Green Tea:

Green tea has been long been used in Chinese and Japanese medicine. It contains catechins, a natural phenol and antioxidant compound, which has been shown to inhibit the growth of oral bacteria. The non-growth of bacteria is good news for bad breath, tooth loss and gum disease. Catechins are also said to offer anti-plaque benefits as well.

6. Water:

While this seems like a real no-brainer, as drinking water benefits every part of our internal and external body, consuming water helps remove food particles from between your teeth and stimulates saliva which acts as cleanser for the mouth and teeth.

As much as food acts as a vitamin and nutrient agent for our bodies, many of us probably haven’t thought a lot about how it can be beneficial in oral health. The next time you visit your dentist, ask about ways food choices affect your oral well being and make for better check up’s in the future.