Social Health

It gets better when we make it better. At HIM, we have a pretty simple idea: gay men with high self-esteem tend to live healthier lives and have access to better health choices. We're interested in improving social health factors that impact gay men, including the big-picture stuff like homophobia and heterosexism. We also have listings for our Professional Volunteers who specialize in social health.

Oral Health

Posted by HIM on Sunday November 21st, 2010

"Open wide..."

*Groan*

"And spit..."

The dentist can be a struggle for some people. That double-rum and coke last night could probably have been avoided, on that your dentist and liver agree. Keeping your teeth and gums healthy is more than just brushing and flossing regularly. In fact, the same way Coke and other soft drinks damage your teeth, other foods can promote Oral health... Funny, pineapple didn't make the list...

-Keith

10 Health Food for our Teeth

Found at www.worldental.org

We eat and we think that food affects our teeth badly. And we are right. But, are there any foods that help keep our teeth healthy? Is there anything that not only keeps but makes our teeth look and be better? Of course there are such foods, and this article is made to describe them.

1. Healthy drink for teeth — Green tea
It contains polyphenols, antioxidant plant compounds that prevent plaque from adhering to your teeth and help reduce your chances of developing cavities and gum disease. Tea also has potential for reducing bad breath because it inhibits the growth of the bacteria that cause the odor. Many green teas also contain fluoride (from the leaves and the water it’s steeped in), which helps protect tooth enamel from decay and promotes healthy teeth.

2. Healthy drink and food for teeth — Milk and yogurt
Unsweetened yogurt and milk are good for your teeth. They have a low acidity. It means that the gradual wearing away of the teeth, also called dental erosion, is less. In addition they are low in sugar, that means less dental decay, too. Milk also is a good source of calcium, that keeps our teeth healthy. Calcium is the main component of teeth and bones, as we know.

3. Healthy food for teeth — Cheese
It is low carbohydrate and has a high calcium and phosphate content that provides important benefits for your healthy teeth. It helps balance your mouth’s pH, preserves and rebuilds tooth enamel, produces saliva, kills the bacteria that cause cavities and gum disease. Cheese contains calcium, too.

4. Healthy food for teeth — Fruits
Different fruits like apples, strawberries, citrus fruits, specially kiwis, contain a lot of vitamin C. It is considered the cement that holds all of your cells together, so just as it’s vital for your skin, it’s important for the health of your gum tissue. If you don’t get enough vitamin C, researches show that the collagen network in your gums can break down, making your gums tender and more susceptible to the bacteria that cause periodontal disease.

5. Healthy food for teeth — Vegetables
Pumpkin, carrots, sweet potato, broccoli are full of vitamin A. This vitamin is absolutely necessary for the formation of tooth enamel. Apart form that, crunchy vegetables cleanse and stimulate your gums, making them healthy.

6. Healthy food for teeth — Onions
This vegetable contains powerful antibacterial sulfur compounds. Tests showed that onions kill various types of bacteria. Researches indicate that they are most powerful when eaten freshly peeled and raw. It may be not so tasty but good teeth are guaranteed.

7. Healthy food for teeth — Celery
This food protects your teeth while extra chewing. It produces plenty of saliva, which neutralizes different bacteria that causes cavities. Additionally, celery massages gums and cleans between teeth keeping them healthy and clean.

8. Healthy food for teeth — Sesame seeds
Good teeth can be a result of combining white bread, especially for small kids, and sesame seeds. It sloughs off plaque and helps build tooth enamel. Sesame seeds are also high in calcium, which helps preserve the bone around your teeth and gums. But firstly, it is very delicious.

9. Healthy food for teeth — Animal food
Beef, chicken, turkey, eggs – all of them contain phosphorous. Calcium, with the help of vitamin D and phosphorous, creates our bones system. These elements keep teeth stronger and healthier by protecting them from teeth decay.

10. Healthy drink for teeth — Water
Healthy water not only purer, but it cleanses the mouth, allowing the saliva to work wonders depositing essential minerals back into the weakened teeth. Drinking water keeps gums hydrated and helps wash away trapped food particles that decompose in the mouth and cause bad breath.

Every time when you feel that a piece of advice in keeping your teeth healthy is needed remember these 10 foods. They will help you to permanently protect your mouth and gums, earning their names of foods for healthy teeth.