Sadly, many of the foods that we love are packed full of sugars and other acids that can erode the enamel on our teeth. This then creates an environment for bacteria to thrive in and cause cavities. But the good news is that there are plenty of tooth-friendly recipes that both your stomach and your teeth will love. Whether you’re cooking up something delicious on the BBQ or in the kitchen, try these 5 tooth-friendly recipes that the whole family will appreciate. But first, let’s go through the foods you should and shouldn’t be eating to protect your teeth.
Foods to Eat
These foods and nutrients should be incorporated in your mealtimes to look after your teeth.
- Fat-soluble vitamins A, D, K, and K2.
Eat foods like grass-fed dairy, aged cheeses, pastured butter, vitamin-rich butter oil, coconut oil, fermented cod liver oil, and pastured meats to consume a healthy dose of these vitamins.
- Protein
To balance the blood sugar, you must eat enough protein throughout the day. If you don’t have enough protein in your diet, then the incidence of tooth decay increases when blood sugar levels are too high. Try eating grass-fed meat, fish, eggs, and legumes to consume enough protein.
- Minerals
Increase your mineral intake for healthy teeth such as bone broth that’s high in gelatin, raw and cultured dairy goods, and seafood.
- Vegetables
Vegetables are tooth-friendly foods crammed full of the vitamins needed for strong enamel, so be sure to consume a range.
Foods to Avoid
We all know that sweet and sugary foods and drinks wreak havoc on teeth. But what else should you avoid to protect your choppers?
Generally, diets that are low in sugar (especially processed sugar) and are high in fat-soluble and water-soluble minerals will do a good job of preventing tooth decay. But some unlikely foods can contribute to tooth decay that you may not be aware of.
These are the foods you should avoid if you want to maintain healthy teeth.
- Refined flour and other grains
- Refined and processed sugar
- Pre-packaged and fast foods
- Coffee
- Sugary sodas and sweeteners
- Soymilk and tofu
- Non-grass-fed meats and eggs
- Fish from farms
- Hydrogenated oils such as margarine and vegetable oils
- Pasteurized dairy products
Tooth-Friendly Recipes
Now we know what we should and shouldn’t be eating to keep our teeth in tip-top condition, here are some delicious tooth-friendly meals to try.
1. Loaded Sweet Potato Soup
Potato soup is tasty and heart-warming, but if you swap white potatoes for sweet potatoes the soup will be even better for your teeth. This loaded sweet potato soup is just as delicious as the classic potato soup, and you’ll find that you don’t miss the white potatoes at all. You may even love it more.
2. Teriyaki Salmon
This teriyaki salmon recipe is great for those on the go, as it’s not only healthy but super-quick to prepare. Salmon is high in omega-3 fatty acids, which helps lessen inflammation. Plus, high-quality salmon is also great for the teeth.
It’s important to opt for wild-caught salmon rather than farm-raised because the meals used to feed fish on farms is often packed full of animal by-products and additives to color the flesh of the fish. When choosing salmon in a supermarket, look for labels that show that the product was caught in the wild and is free from unwanted preservatives.
Marketers may try to fool you, so always look for a packet that says ‘wild’ instead of ‘Atlantic’ or ‘Pacific’. Fish farms can be held in these waters too, so it doesn’t necessarily mean that the fish were wild.
3. Grain-Free Mini Pizzas
These grain-free mini pizzas may look and taste like regular pizzas, but this recipe introduces a healthier version that will benefit your teeth. It seems like dreams do come true after all.
Pile on plenty of tasty vegetables to make it even healthier. If you have kids, it’s also an easy way to get enough greens down them.
4. Creamy Roasted Cauliflower Soup
This creamy roasted cauliflower soup is hearty and packed full of plenty of flavors, thanks to the pastured bacon, indulgent cheese, homemade broth, and nutritious veggies in it.
Tuck into a bowl on a rainy evening to warm your stomach and to treat your teeth.
5. Butter Pecan Ice Cream
Believe it or not, but it’s possible to eat desserts that won’t wreck your teeth. Ice cream is a favorite of both kids and adults alike. However, often shop-bought formulas are crammed full of artificial colors and flavors, high fructose corn syrup, and other nasty ingredients that we should avoid to keep our teeth healthy and sparkly.
This mouth-watering butter pecan ice cream is a healthy and tasty alternative, and thankfully it’s super simple to make in the kitchen at home.
With the right ingredients, homemade ice cream can be very high in brain-healthy fats and nutrients. Those that are sensitive to eating dairy or avoid it altogether can remove the butter and coconut milk, resulting in a finger-licking delicious coconut-pecan flavor.
Another option is to throw in some shredded coconut and coconut oil instead of the butter to make a refreshing coconut ice cream.
Ready to Try These Tooth-Friendly Recipes?
Of course, it’s impossible to consistently follow a perfect diet. But by experimenting with as many tooth-friendly recipes as possible, such as the ones above, you can expect far healthier teeth that are strengthened and nourished.
If you want to look into more preventative measures to protect your teeth, we’re here to help. Here at Westport Dental, we offer various preventative dentistry services to help you care for your teeth and keep them healthy. Discover all we can offer here.
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