Keep your SMILE BRIGHT

These oral health-boosting foods will protect your pearly whites for years to come

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Find yourself in the dreaded dentist's chair more often than you'd like? Your diet might be to blame. Yes, having healthy teeth and gums is about more than simply brushing your teeth twice a day and flossing. It's also down to the food you're putting into your mouth. Why? A diet that's high in sugar and dietary acids (think citrus fruit, tomatoes and even processed meat), and low in calcium can lead to plaque build-up and cause bad breath. To help you choose the best mouth-friendly foods, we've asked our experts what you need to put on your plate...

How does food affect oral health?

Oral health and nutrition go hand in hand. Not only can our diet affect tooth decay and gum disease, but if we have weakened teeth and are unable to chew hard foods, such as raw fruit and veggies, we won't be getting all the nutrients we need.

Vitamins, minerals, carbohydrates and sugars can all impact our teeth, says nutritional therapist Hannah Braye. 'Lack of important vitamins and minerals can lead to poor gum health, swelling and lower immunity to fight oral infections, while eating and drinking too many sugary foods can result in tooth decay and fillings.'

Say 'cheese'

For teeth your dentist would be proud of, tuck into foods containing...

CALCIUM

Dairy products (cheese, milk, plain yogurt), green leafy vegetables, unsweetened soy milk, tofu and tahini