Tooth-Friendly Foods: 3 Colors To Fight Cavities

Preventing cavities takes some effort from you and your dentist. You may think you are doing everything you can to keep tooth decay at bay. But the following are a few things you might not have considered, and color is the key.

Red Foods To Fight Dental Decay

The first red-colored food that you should consider adding to your diet is cranberries. Cranberries contain polyphenols, which can hinder the adhesive properties of the biofilm that bacteria use to stick to your teeth. The bacterial bond is usually referred to as plaque, which can lead to gum disease and tooth decay if left untreated.

You should also consider adding a little bit of red wine to your diet. Wine contains the same polyphenols mentioned earlier. Mind you, this does not mean you should drink excessively. One small glass that is less than half full should be sufficient. 

White Foods To Prevent Cavities

The white foods you should consider adding to your diet are dairy products. All dairy products contain lactic acid and a ton of calcium. Calcium, as your dentist probably told you, is what your teeth are made of. Calcium helps remineralize your teeth and enamel. The enamel is the surface that sits on top of your dentin and protects it from bacterial attacks. Lactic acid helps keep bacteria from successfully attaching themselves to the surface of your teeth. 

There is a subcategory of dairy products that should be highlighted, which are fermented or aged dairy products. Fermented dairy products are things like milk kefir, yogurt or aged cheeses. These products contain vitamin K2, which helps heal calcium-deficient areas of your body Your teeth lose calcium through bacterial attacks or normal wear. So it is important to constantly re-calcify your teeth with vitamin K2.

Add Cavity-Fighting Yellow to Your Diet

Yellow foods include pineapples and honey. Honey (raw honey) contains enzymes that sever oral pathogens' abilities to reproduce. Honey is also highly osmotic, which should dehydrate the cavity-causing bacteria to death. You can purchase raw honey in your local health food store, a local honey farm or online.

Another yellow food to consider adding to your diet is pineapples. Pineapples contain bromelain. Bromelain is an active ingredient that helps dissolve the bacterial biofilm that was mentioned earlier.  

As you can see, your oral health can be enhanced by eating the right colors. Be sure to ask a dentist like those at Rose City Dental Care for other natural suggestions.