When we think of St. Patrick’s Day, we think of leprechauns and luck. But where did it really originate from? It’s a celebration of Irish culture, as well as the remembrance of St. Patrick, a patron saint who used the shamrock to explain the trinity.
But don’t celebrate too hard, beer and other alcohols may affect tooth enamel and tooth decay. Here are some good greens that are healthy for your teeth:
Mint Smoothie
Heard of the Shamrock Shake from McDonald’s? Well make your own healthier version! All you need is vanilla and mint extract. Vanilla is rich with antioxidants, so if you’re having a toothache, it’ll relieve some of the pain. Peppermint is anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial, preventing the growth of bacteria and infection in your teeth. To make this even healthier, add some actual mint leaves to keep your mouth fresh. Wondering how they actual make your mouth so fresh? It breaks down and digests the food particles in your mouth, normalizing pH levels.
Creamy Key Lime Yogurt
As you may know, yogurt is a good source of calcium. Calcium plays a vital role in the maintenance of healthy teeth and gums. It protects tooth enamel, making tooth structure and jaw bones stronger and healthier.
Pistachio or Green Tea Ice Cream
If you’ve got a toothache, or a recent wisdom teeth removal, ice cream is a great choice! Ice cream offers a large amount of calcium, decreasing your risk for gum disease. It’s soft and creamy, making it easy to eat with less effort. Get pistachio or green tea flavored ice cream for more nutrients. Pistachios and nuts provide micronutrients such as phosphorous, magnesium, potassium, zinc and calcium. As for green tea, it controls bacteria and lowers the acidity of saliva, preventing cavities.
Green Tea
Don’t want to eat ice cream? Prefer something warm and calming? Drink a cup of green tea. Green tea contains polyphenols kills microbes, helping your breath smell better. It also contains fluoride, whitening your teeth. Green tea prevents bacteria from growing.
Avocado
Obsessed with avocados? Well you’ll be pleased to hear that they’re not only delicious and good for your skin, but they’re also good for your teeth! They are low in acidity and full of prebiotic fiber, promoting healthy digestion. Avocados also have a lot omega-3 fatty acids, having the ability to absorb fat soluble nutrients and improves periodontitis.
Spinach
Although many times spinach may make your teeth feel weird, they are worth eating. These leafy greens are high in calcium, strengthening tooth enamel. The calcium in spinach are even more absorbable than other calcium such as in yogurt and milk. They also contain antioxidants, removing damaging oxidizing agents.
Kiwi
Kiwis are one of the fruits that contain the most amount of calcium, as well as having high fiber content. Kiwis balance damaging acids and strengthen enamel. Enamel is one of the most important things when it comes to teeth – it helps protect your teeth from cavities.
Celery
Celery is crunchy and abrasive enough when you bite into it to act like a toothbrush. This helps remove plaque and slight discoloration by scraping away food remnants. Celery also contains vitamin A and C. Vitamin A helps with the formation and maintenance of teeth and bones. As for Vitamin C, it is a powerful antioxidant that helps with collagen synthesis, helping to develop and maintain healthy gums.
Chewing Gum
Chewing gum can help protect your teeth and reduce bad breath. Sugar free gum contains xylitol, which is a replacement for sugar. Being so, it actually helps protect your teeth from decay and cavities by reducing the amount of bacteria that can cause cavities. Chewing gum itself can also stimulate production of saliva, neutralizing the acid levels in your mouth, giving better breath and helping with tooth decay.
If you want to learn more about finding the best ways to keep your smile looking lucky, contact our Carlsbad dentists by calling (760) 622-3010 today.
