When I was a kid, each trip to the dentist ended the same way: The dentist would find anywhere from 10 to 15 cavities. My mother would drag out her calendar and schedule the cavity-filling visits at weekly intervals. Usually this took up a good three or four months, until I got a bit of a respite and the pattern repeated all over again.
Today, my visits are a bit less wrought with problems (thanks to numerous root canals and dental implants), but I can’t help but wish I were a child growing up today (at least in the cavity-prevention department, that is). There’s so many ways to protect against cavities now – from more effective toothbrushes to dental sealants.
Here’s another thing you can add to the arsenal of cavity-fighters: coconut oil. Researchers in Ireland have found that coconut oil, a natural antibiotic when digested, can destroy bacteria that cause tooth decay. In a statement, the lead researcher, Dr. Damien Brady, said, “Incorporating coconut oil into dental hygiene products would be an attractive alternative to chemical additives, particularly as it works at relatively low concentrations.”
While you wait for those new coconut oil-enhanced toothpastes and mouthwashes to hit shelves, it’s good to know there are other foods and beverages that can keep your mouth healthy, too. Here, a few of the most common—and beneficial—for your teeth:
Green and black teas. Aside from their other health benefits, green and black teas contain antioxidants called polyphenols. Polyphenols interact with the bacteria in your mouth and prevent it from producing acids that attack your teeth and cause cavities. Green tea has other oral health benefits, according to one study: It prevents bad breath, mitigates the damaging effects of smoking, and could lower your risk of developing cancer of the mouth. You might even get a double dose of protection if the water you use to brew your tea contains fluoride. So drink up!
Diary products and cheese. Cheese is high in phosphate and calcium, helping replace minerals that can be leached from teeth by enamel-destroying acids. It also stimulates saliva and balances the mouth’s pH. The best choices? Cheddar and Swiss. They contain the highest levels of phosphorus. Other dairy products like milk (especially brands that are vitamin-D enriched, which helps the body utilize calcium) and yogurt are also tooth-friendly.
Crunchy fruits and veggies. Biting down on crunchy fruits and veggies—think carrots, celery, apples and pears—stimulates saliva flow, which in turn neutralizes acids formed by cavity-causing bacteria. Even better, raw fruits and veggies help keep down plaque and massage your gums at the same time (a good way to keep your gums from receding). Keep in mind that acidic foods, such as citrus fruits, tomatoes or lemons, should be eaten along with other foods at mealtime to minimize the acid that can attack tooth enamel.
Sugarless gum. Okay, so it’s not exactly a food. But chewing sugarless gum does have health benefits: It generates saliva, which can help remove food particles from your mouth and your teeth. When you can’t brush, pull out of stick of sugarless gum and chew your way to a brighter smile.
