From apples to carrots: 6 foods that strengthen your teeth

Teeth should be brushed every day - ideally after every meal. However, dental health is not just about paying meticulous attention to dental care. It's also about supporting healthy teeth with the right foods. Which foods are particularly good for this? Of course: cheese and other dairy products, nuts and green vegetables can support dental health. But apples and carrots also contain important ingredients that even have a positive effect on the gums. Here we present the most important foods in this context in more detail.

1 Apples: the natural toothbrush effect

An apple a day keeps the doctor away! Almost every adult knows this "wisdom". Apples are packed with vitamins and phytochemicals. These are generally considered to be healthy. Some of the plant substances are even said to have an effect that can protect against cancer. Apples also have a positive effect on dental health for several reasons.

• Natural cleaning: By chewing apples, everyone can help to clean their teeth naturally. Thanks to the fibres contained in the pulp, every apple can remove residues from the teeth and thus help to combat plaque and discolouration.

• Stimulation of saliva production: Chewing and the fruit juice contained in apples leads to an increased production of saliva. This helps to remove bacteria and germs from the oral cavity.

• Fibre: Apples are rich in fibre, especially insoluble fibre. This means that every apple can contribute to mechanical cleansing.

• Vitamin C: Apples contain vitamin C, which is important for dental health. Thanks to its positive influence, it prevents gum disease.

2. Carrots: crunchy and good for your teeth

Similar to apples, carrots also contain a lot of fibre. Eating them therefore helps to mechanically clean the teeth. Biting into a carrot removes plaque from the teeth. Many of the benefits that can be recognised when eating apples can also be transferred to carrots.

Carrots also contain minerals, phytochemicals and vitamins. This also includes vitamin A. Due to its positive effect on the gums, it protects them from inflammation. The vitamin is also good for tooth enamel.

3. cheese: rich in calcium for strong teeth

Dairy products such as cheese contain minerals such as calcium. These are particularly important when it comes to building healthy tooth enamel. Chewing additionally cleans the teeth. At the same time, the production of saliva, which is so important for natural tooth cleaning, increases. Cheese can also act as a buffer for the pH value and neutralise acids.

4. leafy green vegetables: a booster for the gums

Kale, fennel and broccoli contain fibre, vitamins and minerals - such as calcium. Eating them therefore promotes the mechanical cleaning of the teeth. At the same time, the ingredients help to protect the tooth enamel and the gums also benefit from eating green vegetables.

5 Nuts: A crunchy source of tooth-friendly minerals

Phosphorus and magnesium, stimulation of saliva production and mechanical cleaning of the teeth - nuts also have a positive effect on dental health. Walnuts, peanuts and almonds contain calcium, which is known to have a positive effect on teeth. Eating nuts therefore has a positive effect on tooth enamel. In addition, chewing nuts intensively stimulates saliva production - which in turn stimulates cleaning.

6. water: the essential thirst quencher for healthy teeth

It seems trivial, but water is also particularly important for healthy teeth. Bacteria and food residues are rinsed out of the mouth by water. At the same time, the lack of sugar ensures that the bacteria have no food source. At the same time, water reduces the acidity in the mouth.

Professional teeth cleaning

In addition to nutrition, appropriate dental care is also required. This includes more than just brushing your teeth. Dentists recommend professional teeth cleaning once or twice a year. Professional teeth cleaning removes plaque on the teeth that can no longer simply be brushed away.

Unfortunately, statutory health insurance rarely covers the costs of professional teeth cleaning. It is therefore worth considering supplementary dental insurance. Good supplementary dental insurance policies cover 100% of the costs of professional dental cleaning, while other tariffs limit the maximum amount reimbursed or the number of cleanings per year. You can compare tariffs here: to the comparison portal.

Conclusion: With the right foods for healthy teeth

A radiant smile needs healthy teeth. Of course, this also includes comprehensive dental care. In addition to regular prophylaxis, it is important to check how individual foods affect the teeth. Nuts and green vegetables contain many vitamins and minerals. These have a positive effect on tooth enamel. At the same time, there are many foods that support the mechanical cleaning of teeth due to their high fibre and roughage content. The bottom line is that everything has to work together to maintain healthy teeth - ideally for a lifetime.