Best Foods For Beautiful Teeth

1.Dark chocolate

Yes, chocolate is actually first on the list. Thanks to the cacao compound CBH, which scientists found hardens tooth enamel and makes your teeth more resistant to cavities and sensitivity, dark chocolate is a superfood for the teeth.

That’s why all my patients leave their checkups with a small square of dark chocolate in their goodie bags, along with floss and toothpaste. To reap the best benefits yourself, look for a dark chocolate with 75% cacao content or higher, and with less than 8 grams of sugar per serving.

2. Chicken liver

Vitamin K2 is essential to the development of the facial structure, jaw, and teeth. Why? Because vitamin K2 keeps calcium from building up in the arteries, instead injecting it straight into the bones and teeth. Vitamin K2 deficiency is a big reason why most children in North America require orthodontics.

But cultures who have access to organ meats from grass-fed animals — rare in our modern world — have straight teeth naturally, thanks to an abundance of vitamin K2 in their diets.

For a dish particularly rich in this essential vitamin, look for liver from grass-fed chicken.

3. Wild salmon

You probably know that calcium helps protect our teeth and gums. But did you know that your body actually can’t absorb calcium properly without sufficient vitamin D?

Fatty fish, like wild salmon, are a great source of this nutrient and will help fight cavities and gum disease naturally.

4. Water

While this isn’t surprising, it’s hard to overstate how vital H2O is for a healthy smile.

Saliva is your mouth's best friend, since it helps to neutralize acids in the mouth and prevent tooth decay and bad breath. And because saliva is made up of 99.5% water, you need to stay fully hydrated in order to ramp up production.

Bonus: Water also helps you between brushing sessions by rinsing food debris. Swish with water after snacks and meals, and you’ll help to prevent staining at the same time you increase saliva.

5. Snap peas

Looking for an easy snack that also boosts a beautiful smile? These vibrant veggies are the perfect in-between-meals bites. Mimicking a toothbrush and floss, the high fiber content helps to scrub teeth, breaking up biofilm and plaque buildup in the process.

Plus, the extra work it takes to chew these vegetables speeds up saliva production. Not a fan of snap peas? Aim for other high-fiber, crunchy fruits and veggies, like apples and carrots.

6. Xylitol

Scientists have found that the natural sweetener xylitol wards off tooth decay, thanks to special compounds that reduce the bacteria responsible for cavities. Since it’s not as digestible to bacteria as sugar, it’s also a poor food source for cavity-causing bacteria.

You can find it in most sugarless gums, as well as use it in place of sugar in many recipes. A word of caution for canine owners, though: xylitol can be toxic to dogs.

7. Green and black tea

Tea is a great choice after a meal, since it contains natural plant compounds called "polyphenols."

Here’s how these work: Each time you enjoy a meal, you're also feeding the bacteria in your mouth, which then excrete acid as a waste product. This acid is what causes cavities. But the polyphenols in green and black tea help to suppress the bacteriaearly on, thus keeping your teeth healthy.