Fit Fare

We know that we shouldn’t eat too much sugar, drinking too many sodas is a definite no-no and that we should be oh-so careful before biting into a Brach’s peppermint. So, is there anything we can eat that’ll actually help our pearly whites rather than harm them?

Here are three foods that’ll not only add some taste to your diet but also protect your teeth as well:

Cheese – “The apple pie without the cheese is like a kiss without a squeeze,” is a proverb that’s not too far-off. Eating cheese after a meal, especially a sugar-laden one, may just make your kiss sweeter and your smile brighter. Cheese counters the production of acids caused by sugary foods by stimulating saliva production. Click Here.

Cranberries - They’re not just for urinary tract infections. Researchers at the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry found that cranberries protect teeth as well. Powerful sources of antioxidants, cranberries contain flavonoids and tannins, which prevent caries-causing bacteria from sticking to your teeth. Click Here.

Yogurt - Researchers at Tsurumi University in Yokohama, Japan showed that study participants who ate more sugar-free yogurt had lower levels hydrogen sulphide, a major culprit behind bad breath. Another bonus: Plaque and gingivitis were also significantly lower among yogurt eaters. Click Here (PDF File).

For more information about foods and their influence on your pearly whites visit:

http://www.ada.org/public/topics/diet_faq.asp

http://www.eatright.org/cps/rde/xchg/ada/hs.xsl/home_4633_ENU_HTML.htm

http://www.webmd.com/content/article/108/108852.htm

http://southtexas.uthscsa.edu/AHEC/HealthEd/Oral/NutritionalFood.html

http://www.clevelandclinic.org/health/health-info/docs/3200/3253.asp?index=11196