Did you know your diet could seriously impact the way your mouth looks and feels?

How exactly does your diet affect your smile? To put it simply, a bad diet can lead to issues like cavities and gum disease. Foods high in sugars, starches and carbohydrates are known for increasing the production of plaque, which eats away at healthy tooth enamel. Luckily, your Shelby Township, MI family dentist, Dr. John Dixon, knows some foods that you can incorporate into your diet to boost your smile!

Leafy Greens

It might not sound like the most exciting thing on the list, but adding leafy greens to your diet will certainly go a long way to helping improve your smile. Plus, foods like kale and spinach are chock full of great vitamins and minerals, like calcium, which is great for keeping teeth enamel strong without wracking up that many calories. Toss them in a salad or a smoothie for a real smile treat!

Apples

There is something rewarding about crunching into an apple and something refreshing about the sweet, crisp flavor. While apples might have sugar, these are natural sugars, which are good in moderation. Plus, apples stimulate the production of saliva, which can wash away food and plaque. Even though apples can never take the place of your toothbrush, or the six-month checkups with your Shelby Township dentist, they can be a wonderfully healthy and beneficial snack.

Almonds

Are you lactose intolerant, or do you maybe just not like the taste of milk? In order to maintain strong bones, you need calcium in your diet. This is where almonds make their appearance. Maybe you didn’t know this, but almonds are a great source of protein and calcium. They are also relatively low in sugar. Put a handful of almonds in your yogurt for breakfast or snack on some during the day to satiate your cravings and keep teeth strong.

Cheese

Are you a cheese lover? With things like National Cheese Day and festivals honoring cheese around the county, you are certainly not alone in your love. And since cheese is rich in calcium, phosphorus and other smile-friendly elements, eating cheese may protect your teeth enamel. Plus, if you munch on some cheese after meals or as a snack, research has even discovered that it could prevent tooth decay.

These are only some of the foods that you should incorporate regularly into your diet if you want a radiant smile. A healthy body radiates through a healthy smile. And, of course, no healthy smile would be complete without a six-month visit to see their Shelby Township, MI general dentist, Dr. Dixon, for routine care. If it’s time for your next checkup give our office a call today.