Healthy Teethy and Healthy Food

We human beings have a tendency to focus on the negative. So, when we talk about food and our teeth, we tend to focus on the sugary, sticky snacks that encourage tooth decay -- especially if we're not careful to brush and floss properly.

On the other hand, we at Hamlin Dental Group very much like to accentuate the positive. So, because we want to be place for a dentist Northridge and greater L.A. food fans turn to for positive advice, below are a few items even the strictest dental professional can heartily endorse.

* Dairy products. Yes, we know that excessive consumption has been associated with a number of health issues, particularly excessive weight, as some of the most delicious dairy products are also quite high in fat. Even so, if you can limit the fat and don't overdo it, such products as milk and cheese are rich in healthy, tooth-and-bone loving calcium and protein, too. On the other hand, as a dentist in North Hollywood and L.A. generally, we know many people object on principle to animal products. The good news there is that most brands of vegan-friendly soy milk usually contains a great deal of added calcium.

* Apples and pears. Yes, these fruity perennials have their share of sugar, but not nearly as much as candy, and no candy we know will help clean your teeth the way these great and generally very healthy fruits do.

* Celery, jicama, raw carrots, etc. Guess what? These popular veggies contains less sugar that the fruits above and are just as crunchy and teeth cleaning. Indeed, any food containing large amounts of fiber is believed to have a cleansing impact on the teeth and mouth. Crunchy is, in many cases, good!

* Sugarless chewing gum. "Three out of four dentists recommend _______ for their patients who chew gum" went the old commercial. We're not going to endorse any particular brand, but it does appear that sugarless gum generates healthy saliva while also removing material from your teeth. Of course, gum with sugar puts about the worst thing there is for your teeth on them, so consider gum both the best of choices and the worst of choices, toothwise.