What foods should I eat to get healthier teeth?

Question

I've had bad teeth my entire life. For the past 10 yrs. or so I've had regular cleanings twice a year and even though I'm hopelessly addicted to Pepsi, I do rinse my mouth out with water after I eat and drink, plus I chew sugarless gum after every meal as well. I don't get much calcium because dairy gives me bad stomach aches and I'm also a vegetarian who doesn't particularly like vegetables, so I eat a lot of pasta, salad and fruit. What else should I be eating to make my teeth stronger?

cheers,
Shauna!

p.s. I KNOW Pepsi is bad for me, I really do. But I'm addicted to it and I get bad headaches anytime I try to give it up. Plus I absolutely LOVE the stuff and I don't want to give it up. I don't like diet Pepsi so that's not an option. And I rinse my mouth out with water and chew sugarless gum EVERY time I drink one, so I think my teeth issues have more to do with what I'm not eating rather than what I am.

Answer 1

You can get a floridated perscription toothpaste that will help to strenghten your teeth. My dentist gave it to me for tooth sensitvity.
Aditonally
Food with high calcium

300 milligrams of calcium:
Salmon, canned with bones -- 6 ounces
Collard greens -- 1 cup cooked frozen
Soy milk -- 1 cup, varies with brand
Fortified orange juice -- 1 cup

Most adults need 1,000 milligrams a day; adults over 50 need 1,200 milligrams

Answer 2

I'll be honest with you. As for the strength of your teeth, nothing you eat currently will change the strength of your teeth. Once your teeth have matured, they stop taking in nutrients like they once did. This is why it is important for children to eat healthy and regularly see the dentist. Having said all this, you can help prevent your teeth from becoming damaged by changing or tweeking your diet.
If it is decay your worried about. Decay happens when bacteria eat surgar and produce an acid. This acidity level in your mouth rises and your teeth break down. Your saliva brings the ph back to normal but this takes a couple hours. People with dry mouth get decay much quicker. This is why chewing gum without surgar helps (it stimulates the salivary glands). People who drink (in your case) pepsi often throughout the day don't ever let the ph get back to normal and the teeth break down. My suggestion to you would be to cut down on the time you drink the pepsi...do not be a sipper. Continue to brush, floss, and use flouride rinses. A controversial way to also help would be to chew a tums after each pepsi. I have heard this works but don't quote me on that.
If it is stain you are worried about...sorry .... you would have to give up the pepsi

Answer 3

You can still have your pepsi but here's a tip. Don't drink on it all day. Drink it within 1-2 hours of getting it. Keep rinsing your mouth out afterwards. Also chewing gum like trident that is good for your teeth. My dentist said that drinking lots of water will keep your teeh healthier and whiter too.

Answer 4

Nutrition tips for healthy teeth:
Avoid foods with high concentration of sugar such as ice cream, halwa, gulab jamun, barfi and other sweets.

Eat more nutritious foods with less sugar such as milk, rice, meat, fruits and fish etc.

Most of the refreshing drinks and aerated drinks have a high concentration of sugar, and hence should be restricted.

It is advisable to eat sweet dishes along with the rest of the meal instead of taking them in between meals. This is so because during meals saliva production is increased during meals, and this helps in neutralising the acid that may damage the teeth.

It is also important to note the food structure:
- Wet foods act for only a limited amount of time
- Tough foods are the safest because they increase saliva production and help in the self-cleaning of teeth
- Soft and sticky foods should be avoided because they attach and get between the teeth providing a favourable place for bacteria to grow.

Good foods:
Fresh milk
Vegetables
Fish
Yogurt
Some fruits and fresh fruit juice
Meat
Cheese
Wheat bread
Nuts

Bad foods:
Sugar
Milk with sugar
Ice cream
Honey
Refreshment drinks with sugar
Chocolate
Jam
White bread
Biscuits
Jellies
Cakes and sweets

Besides low sugar foods, low fat choices like raw vegetables, fresh fruits, or whole grain breads are also good choices.

Answer 5

I don't know what will help your teeth at this point. Talk to your dentist and see if he has any recommendations. As far as the issue with dairy products, you are probably lactose intolerant and that's why you get stomach aches after eating dairy. You can still incorporate dairy into diet by either using a product such as Lactaid before eating any dairy or by drinking milk that is lactose free. My daughter is lactose intolerant and she likes the lactose free milk, she says she can't taste any difference.

Answer 6

Shauna, floss regularly also. I'm told 3 teaspoons of cayanne pepper taken in apple juice daily does a lot to help the body to rebuild itself.
Why are you concerned about stronger teeth when you are too weak to stop drinking pepsi. I like pepsi also; I don't drink it every day though.

Answer 7

try taking vitamin D tablets if you can't handle dairy products well.. floss, listerine, and brush twice a day. if you're getting bad headaches from not drinking pepsi.. you're probably getting migraines and should see a doctor about prescribing you meds for that.

Answer 8

eat carrots and brockly