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Best Foods for Healthy Teeth and Gums

more than smiles

Taking care of your teeth isn’t difficult. In fact, you can even help your teeth while you eat! According to the American Dental Association (ADA), healthy eating patterns and food choices can help prevent tooth decay. Conversely, choosing foods that are bad for your teeth can negatively impact your oral health. Learn what foods are right for your teeth and what good habits can help your oral health.

How does food impact my teeth?

Eating whole grains in low-sugar bread and cereals or fruits and vegetables and quality protein are the best foods for a healthy mouth. Fruits and vegetables are especially beneficial because chewing firm, coarse, watery, and fibrous foods help you produce saliva, removing leftover food particles.

Best Foods for Your Teeth

According to the ADA, many healthy foods help your teeth stay strong and help your mouth clear bacteria and acid from your teeth. Even if you can’t eat all these because of allergies or sensitivities, there are still lots of other options:

  • Yogurt and cheeses

  • Carrots, celery, and leafy greens

  • Apples

  • Black and green teas

  • Lean proteins

  • Nuts

Why dairy products are good for your teeth

First, dairy products like cheese, yogurt, and milk encourage your body to produce more saliva, protecting your teeth. Second, cheese and yogurt are high in calcium and protein, which helps strengthen your teeth. Also, yogurt contains probiotics, or beneficial bacteria, for your digestive system. Just remember to choose unsweetened or sugar-free yogurt and add a touch of sweetener or honey yourself. Suppose you are sensitive or allergic to dairy. In that case, you can find calcium- and protein-fortified nut milk like almond, soy, or cashew milk.

Leafy greens

Vegetables should be a star in your diet because they have many health benefits without being heavy or calorie-dense. Vegetables provide vitamins and minerals and help you produce saliva to clean your mouth and keep enamel healthy.

Leafy greens like kale, spinach, chard, or collard greens are full of vitamins and minerals while being low in calories. If you don’t go too heavy on the dressings or toppings, you could eat as many leafy greens as you want! Leafy greens are high in calcium, folic acid, and B vitamins, which help your health. You can easily add these leafy greens can to a salad or smoothie.

Why do apples, carrots, and celery help your teeth?

Instead of grabbing a candy bar or dessert, if you have a sweet tooth, eat an apple instead! Apples provide hydration and fiber for your body. By replacing sugary treats with apples, you’re promoting good saliva production. Celery helps clean your teeth because the texture can scrape leftover food particles and bacteria away from your teeth.

Carrots and celery are a great source of fiber, vitamin C, and vitamin A. Add raw carrots to a salad, or enjoy some baby carrots as a snack.

Tea, nuts, and lean proteins

Unsweetened black and green teas provide plaque-fighting ingredients. Lean proteins like meat, fish, poultry, and tofu have phosphorous and protein to help keep teeth healthy. Almonds are great for your teeth because they are a good source of calcium and protein while being low in sugar.

What about snacks and sweets?

The ADA recommends limiting snacks between meals. Typical snack foods are high in sugar. Frequent eating of these foods increases the amount of time you expose your teeth to the harmful effects of sugar while decreasing saliva’s ability to neutralize tooth-damaging acids. Bacteria uses sugar as a fuel that gets converted into acid. This means that those foods will continue to harm your teeth long after you have finished eating them.

When deciding on a snack, opt for some of the foods mentioned like almonds, cheese, fruits, and vegetables.

Beverages are just as important for your teeth

Continuously sipping sugary beverages like juice, soda, or wine feeds the bacteria in your mouth. When bacteria feed on the sugar on your teeth, they leave damaging acids behind. This is why experts recommend drinking water and limiting the amount of sugar you consume.

Other foods best for your teeth

Fluoride plays a vital role in building strong teeth and bones, helping prevent tooth decay. This is why we add fluoride to toothpaste and water. Choosing fluoride toothpaste or eating foods with fluoride helps your teeth absorb this mineral, allowing the fluoride to make your teeth acid-resistant.

Most seafood is a good source of fluoride because oceans are full of natural sodium fluoride. Carrots, beets, canned pork and beans, canned tomato products, and cheeses all have some fluoride. See this list of fluoride-enriched foods on the USDA National Nutrient Database.

Water is a great cleanser. Drinking plenty of water throughout the day can help eliminate dry mouth by keeping your mouth moist to prevent the bacteria that lead to cavities, gum disease, or bad breath. Chewing sugar-free gum, especially after a meal, keeps the flow of saliva going and freshen after-dinner breath.

Adding these foods to your diet can make a difference in your oral health. You can also focus on healthy habits such as limiting snacking and limiting sugar in your diet. Ensuring you pack your diet with vegetables, low- or no-sugar-added dairy products, fruits, lean proteins, and plenty of water is an excellent way to prevent tooth decay and promote oral health.

Do you want a healthier smile?

We offer complimentary consultations. Getting started is easy, just tap the button below to get your very own treatment plan from our doctors!

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patient testimonials

Every Smile Tells a Story

We love it when our patients smile, and we love it even more when want they want to tell the world! Check out what our patients have to say about their 5-star experience with us.
The absolute best! We were recommended by my children’s dentist and the office was directly next door (Prairieville location). The entire office staff is amazing and very personable which... had me sold from the consultation. My son started treatment in Aug 2024 and so did I Dec 2024. The reviews definitely match the experience and I’d recommend over and over again!!read more
Davia W.
We just started, but so far I have been satisfied every step of the way.
Tasha L.
Love these guys. Professional, kind, and efficient.
Julie D.
Everyone was so nice. I would recommend Sherman and Balhoff to anyone!!!!
Mary J.
I am so excited to have started my treatment plan with Sherman & Balhoff! Very responsive, helpful. The office staff is great. Don’t put it off…call them today.
Lynn H.
After having my braces off for only 7 months from a previous orthodontist, I switched to S&B after not being happy with my results and incomplete treatment. One of the best decisions I've... made. Great with time management, quick and easy appointments, friendly staff. Definitely recommend.read more
Carly D.
Best office in town! Sherman and Balhoff always put the patient first from small wait times to patient care. I wouldn't take my kids (or myself!) anywhere else!
Lauren O.
Dr. Stephen Sherman is still incredible! I saw him for my braces in 2007 and he just put on my daughter’s this past December! He does great work and his staff is phenomenal! I would... recommend anyone to see this office for your orthodontic needs!read more
Sydney G.
Dr. David Baloff is my sons orthodontist. My son is deaf/hard of hearing. Dr. Balhoff always takes extra time to communicate with him and visit, above and beyond just his dental appt. Today... I called to reschedule my son’s appt. I had an ER visit and will be out of commission to bring him. The staff sent me a beautiful flower arrangement with a heartfelt, Get Well soon. I was blown away by the thoughtfulness. The doctors and staff are simply amazing and really do care about their patients and their patients family’s. You don’t find this type of care often. I am truly thankful and blessed.read more
Terri B.
The owners go above and beyond for the care of their patients.
Todd B.
Awesome service
Courtney H.
I recently completed my second go-round with braces (my first was many years ago as a teenager), as a 60 year old patient of S&B.I want to express my most sincere appreciation for the... results I see when I look in the mirror...the results have exceeded my expectations.Additionally, I was very impressed with the way I was treated (as a patient) each and every time I had an appointment.Yet, I believe one of the most impactful (and unexpected) memories of this journey was the way I felt each time I left the building (at the end of each appointment.) With no exception, each time I was there, I felt a genuine teamwork atmosphere. To the person, they not only expressed care for me (the patient) but they expressed care for each other (the employee.)Thank you, S&B, for not only leaving me with a visual example of success but, moreover, an emotional example of success.read more
Scott D.
Very friendly & caring. Would recommended to anyone
Janell H.
Everyone was super friendly and well informed. So glad we picked them!
Lindsay H.
From ole college roommate to prestigious orthodontist 🦷. Glad to have a friend and Dr in David Balhoff. Great person and the 🌎 World is a better place with him.
Charles J.
They are amazing with everyone. My daughter just had braces put on in May and they have been wonderful with questions, etc.
Allison K.
I used Sherman and Balhoff myself as an adult and now my daughter is a patient there. They are the best and go above and beyond for their patients. Dr. Sherman even came back after closing... because my daughter was having an issue with her bite after getting her braces put on. He was so very nice and professional. I would recommend them to anyone.read more
Dana G.
Loved every moment of my visit. They're all so nice & sweet. Dr Balhoff made sure I was good as he was doing my braces
Lacasey
Staff was very helpful and friendly.
Angela C.
Amazing staff and doctors!
Patty C.
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You don’t need an excuse to smile more, but we would like to give you a few extra reasons! We have four locations for your convenience, and each of them have friendly doctors and teams ready to serve you. We can’t wait to meet you!

Prairieville

Central

Baton Rouge

Addis

Baton Rouge

Baton Rouge

Addis

Addis

Prairieville

Prairieville

Central

Central
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Locations

  • BATON ROUGE8311 Bluebonnet Blvd. Baton Rouge, LA 70810
  • ADDIS6715 LA Highway 1 S.Addis, LA 70710
  • PRAIRIEVILLE14154 LA Hwy. 73Prairieville, LA 70769
  • CENTRAL14465 Wax Rd.Central, LA 70818

Phone

  • (225) 769-1276

Office Hours

Monday 7:30am – 4:30pm
Tuesday 7:10am – 4:30pm
Wednesday 7:10am – 4:00pm
Thursday 7:30am – 3:30pm
Friday 8:00am – 12:00pm (Admin Only)
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