Whole foods are a great source of health and nutrition for your teeth and gums. A wide variety of foods allow you to enjoy both great tastes and a complementary balance of minerals and vitamins that support dental health. Some foods will even help correct existing dental problems.

Calcium is the main mineral needed to sustain the health of your teeth and bones. In order for calcium to be readily absorbed into the body, it requires the presence and assistance of some complementary minerals and vitamins. Magnesium, phosphorous, silicon, zinc, vitamins A, D and C all play major roles in adequate calcium absorption; which translates into healthy teeth and bones.

There are some foods that you should only eat sparingly because they bind calcium and inhibit it from being absorbed. Rhubarb, cranberries, plums, spinach, chards and beet greens all fall into this category. Also, sugar, honey and even rice syrup and fruits, in excess, are calcium inhibitors and contribute to tooth decay. When you must indulge in eating sweets, if you eat celery or lettuce, (with their slightly bitter taste) before or directly after sweet consumption they help to assist your body to better assimilate the sweets.

One sweet substitute you can welcome into your home with open arms is Stevia Leaf. The leaves of this herb are very sweet. According to a report by The Hiroshima University School of Dentistry, they, “actually suppress dental bacteria growth rather than feeding it as sugars do.” You can add stevia powder or concentrate to foods and baked goods to create your desired sweetness.

Oranges, high in Vitamin C and flavanoids, help to strengthen weak gums and teeth. Carrots are high in Vitamin A which is a co-factor to calcium absorption. “Eating carrot sticks daily helps strengthen children’s teeth, and in some cases, reduces overcrowding of the teeth by encouraging the development of the lower jaw.”, nutritionist Paul Pitchford explains in his book, Healing With Whole Foods

Green plants, seaweeds, cereal grasses (barley and wheatgrass), and micro algae (spirulina and chlorella) are all high in chlorophyll, calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, vitamin A, D and C. Seaweeds, such as kelp, hijiki and arame are the highest sources of magnesium and calcium. Other high food sources are beans, legumes, nuts, seeds and grains. A wonderful green salad, with a sprinkle of nuts or seeds is a great boost to dental health. As is some delicious bean soup or bean burritos. A teaspoon of kelp or a handful of arame can be added to any dish to amp up its mineral content. Calcium rich almonds, the most alkaline nut, make a superb snack.

Herbs are also whole foods and horsetail and oatstraw are two silicon rich herbs that support healthy teeth. Silicon is another co-factor in the proper assimilation of calcium. “In one case, a woman in her seventies took the silicon-rich herb horsetail in a tea for several months. When she went to her dentist, he was amazed to find that a number of small cavities had filled in.” (From Healing With Whole Foods)

You are empowered with the choices of foods you bring into your home. These healthy whole foods add to the health of your teeth and gums by providing you with a high dose of minerals and vitamins. This is a treatment you can enjoy.