February is National Children’s Dental Health Month. The National Children’s Dental Health Month is a…
Foods You Can Eat to Improve Your Dental Health
Taking care of your teeth is an incredibly important part of your daily routine. We all need to make sure that brushing, flossing, and rinsing with the right mouthwash is something that is being done at least one to two times each day. However, we cannot always stop in the middle of our day to be able to brush after every single meal. So what options are there? The food you eat, of course!
Some Foods Help to Improve Your Dental Health
If you just had lunch, but know it is going to be a bit before you are able to brush your teeth, try chewing on something rough. Some great options include a stalk of celery, a few raw carrots, or even an apple. These help remove extra debris from your teeth, plus they increase how much saliva you are producing, allowing your mouth to feel cleaner after eating any of them.
For those who had something acidic for lunch, having a little bit of cheese or a small glass of milk can help cut down on the leftover acid that is still sitting in your mouth. The more you can remove or neutralize the acids in your mouth, the less damage it has the potential to do to your teeth.
When having onion-breath isn’t an issue, then you may want to add a little bit of raw onion to the foods you are eating. Top your burger or add it to your sandwich to get it into your meal, whenever you can. Onions have been known to help increase the antibacterial properties of the mouth, and can even eradicate some of the bacteria that are already linked to gum disease or cavities.
When you are having a busy day and simply have time for a small snack instead of a full meal, turn to a handful of cashews. The oil that comes out of a cashew has the ability to fight the microbes within your mouth, and keep your teeth cleaner after eating them.
Some of the foods that you eat can really help your teeth stay cleaner and stronger, when used at the right time. Keep some of these foods on hand when you know you will be stuck somewhere that will not allow you to brush right after eating. They can help preserve your pearly whites longer, and keep your mouth as healthy as possible after each meal.
Dr. Jordan Cooper is from Jacksonville, AR. His father is Dr. James Cooper, a Jonesboro, AR native and practicing dentist of 39 years and his mother, Tracy Cooper, is a dental hygienist from Little Rock. Dr. Cooper graduated high school from Central Arkansas Christian, after which he entered at the University of Arkansas as a Chancellor’s Scholar in 1998.
Dr. David Cole is a graduate from the University of Arkansas, receiving his degree in 2016, and is a huge Razorback fan! He then went to dental school at the University of Tennessee where he received his D.D.S. in 2021. He looks forward to getting to know the Central Arkansas area, and serving his community!
Dr. Rasmussen is a Hot Springs native who graduated from the University of Central Arkansas in 2017 (Go Bears). After receiving his D.D.S from The University of Tennessee in 2021, he is looking forward to serving the central Arkansas community and the wonderful people who live here.
Dr. James Cooper was born in Jonesboro, Arkansas. He studied at the University of New Mexico and graduated from dental school from the University of Missouri, Kansas City. After 2 years of dental experience with the Army, Dr. Cooper moved to Jacksonville in 1973 to practice dentistry.