Healthy Diet, Healthy Smile

The COVID-19 crisis has caused many of our patients to spend a lot of time in their homes here lately. As your trusted dentist in Annapolis, MD, we wanted to provide you with some suggestions on how you can continue to take care of your dental health at home. Here are some things to include in your diet that will go a long way in helping your smile too:

Calcium

Your teeth need calcium to remain strong and healthy. It also plays a major role in making sure your jawbone is healthy enough to support your teeth and hold them firmly in place. Ensuring that you are eating foods that contain high amounts of calcium is one of the best things you can do for your smile. Additionally, it is especially important that you provide high-calcium content foods to your children as they will need it as they continue to grow and develop. Some great snacks to keep around your home that are high in calcium include milk, yogurt, and cheese. You can also get a lot of calcium from fruits and veggies.

Vitamin C

Vitamin C is absolutely necessary for your overall health, but it also helps out your dental health. Gum disease is a common infection that occurs when bad bacteria build up around your gum line and begin to eat away at your soft tissues. If left untreated, gum disease can lead to extensive damage including tooth loss. Vitamin C helps your body fight off this bad bacteria, preventing gum disease from occurring. While oranges are a known great source of Vitamin C, too much citrus fruit can actually cause tooth sensitivity. Instead, try getting your daily dose of Vitamin C from strawberries, apple slices, and cantaloupe. Leafy greens also contain a lot of Vitamin C.

Potassium

Making sure you’re getting plenty of potassium will help your smile as well. This is because potassium improves bone mineral density and works to prevent your blood from becoming too acidic. If your blood becomes too acidic, it can affect how much calcium is getting to your bones and teeth. A couple of high potassium snacks include bananas, potatoes, sweet potatoes, and avocados.

Schedule An Appointment

At the Annapolis dental office of Dr. Vernon Sheen, you will find a patient-centered practice, focused on quality care and long-term relationships. Our mission is to listen to our patients and identify their concerns. We want to assure you that we are taking specific measures in addition to our thorough infection control procedures in order to keep you, our dental team, and our community safe from the spread of coronavirus. Our office and our dental team are fully compliant with the guidelines from the CDC and the American Dental Association. Please contact us directly for more information on scheduling your next dental appointment.