7 Superfoods for Your Teeth

_Be careful with_: yogurt, which has been linked to an increased risk of tooth decay in children. This may be because kids tend to eat yogurts high in sugar, Wolff says. Stick to brands

that have 10 grams of sugar or less per serving. 3. FRUITS AND VEGGIES It really doesn’t matter what kind: They’re all good for your chompers, Novy says. Why? They’re all high in water,

which helps wash away harmful acids and debris in your mouth, and they’re rich in fiber, which helps to balance the sugars they contain and helps to clean your teeth. Crunchy, firm foods

like carrots or celery that contain lots of water are also great natural teeth cleaners because they stimulate the flow of saliva, which helps to scrub away food particles and bacteria,

Novy says. ​_Be careful with_: citrusy fruits and veggies, like oranges, grapefruits and tomatoes. Frequent exposure to such acidic foods can erode enamel, making teeth more susceptible to

tooth decay over time, according to the American Dental Association. “I have a lot of older patients who grow tomatoes in the summertime so that they can live on homemade tomato sauce, and

it really wreaks havoc on their teeth,” Novy says. “As you age, it becomes harder for your mouth to neutralize acids, so you see more tooth damage.” Also watch out for dried fruit:

It's sticky, which means it can damage your teeth because it tends to stay on them longer than other types of food. If you do eat something like raisins or prunes, rinse with water

immediately after, and brush and floss carefully. 4. LEAN PROTEINS Poultry, fish, eggs and lean cuts of beef are all rich in phosphorus, a mineral that helps to strengthen your teeth by

protecting and rebuilding tooth enamel, says Libby Mills, a registered dietitian and national spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, based in Philadelphia. Protein is

also important to help with gum-tissue repair and the mucosal lining of the mouth, both of which break down with age, she adds. This may be a challenge for older adults, almost half of whom

already don’t get enough protein. “The biggest problem we see among older patients is that they shy away from eating protein, because it becomes harder for them to chew, especially if

they’ve already lost teeth,” Wolff says. _Be careful with:_ processed meats. A review published in January in the British Journal of Nutrition found that oral health problems like tooth

loss, dry mouth and gum disease in older ages were associated with a diet high in saturated fat, including processed meat. 5. SUGARLESS GUM It’s a serious saliva maker, which can help with

remineralization. Why? The increased flow adds more calcium and phosphate to your saliva, which help strengthen tooth enamel, Mills says. Try to chew sugarless gum for 20 minutes after

every meal, and look for one that has the American Dental Association Seal of Acceptance.