Diet For Healthy Teeth

BELIEVE IT OR NOT, THE FOODS you consume can affect your smile as much as brushing or flossing.choosing foods that naturally fight bacteria, remove plaque, strengthen enamel, and freshen breath is a good way to preserve your pearly whites.

The best food choices for the health of your mouth include cheeses, chicken or other meats, nuts, and milk. These foods are thought to protect tooth enamel by providing the calcium and phosphorus needed to remineralize teeth (a natural process by which minerals are redeposited in tooth enamel after being removed by acids)

Other food choices include firm/crunchy fruits (for example, apples and pears) and vegetables. These foods have a high water content, which dilutes the effects of the sugars they contain, and stimulate the flow of saliva (which helps protect against decay by washing away food particles and buffering acid). Acidic foods, such as citrus fruits, tomatoes, and lemons, should be eaten as part of a larger meal to minimize the acid from them.

BEST FOODS FOR HEALTH TEETH AND GUMS

1. Celery

Celery protects your teeth in two ways.The extra chewing it requires produces plenty of saliva, which neutralizes the bacteria Streptococcus mutans that causes cavities. Additionally, chomping on naturally abrasive foods massages gums and cleans between teeth. Try This: Snack on a handful of raw celery or carrots once a day.
2. Cheese


Studies from the last decade show that cheese, with its low carbohydrate and high calcium and phosphate content, provides several benefits for your teeth. It helps balance your mouth's pH (an acidic pH encourages the growth of cavity-causing bacteria). Cheese also preserves and rebuilds tooth enamel and produces saliva, which kills the bacteria that cause cavities and gum disease.
3. Green Tea
Green tea (Camellia sinensis) contains substances called catechins that kill the bacteria in your mouth that turn sugar into plaque (a sticky mass of bacteria, sugars, proteins, and fats that produces cavity-causing acid when it comes in contact with sugary or starchy foods). Catechins also wipe out the bacteria that cause bad breath. Try This: Drink 2 to 5 cups of green tea (regular or decaffeinated) a day.
4. Kiwis
For their size, kiwis pack more vitamin C than any other fruit. In fact, one large kiwi supplies more than 100 percent of your recommended daily amount. If you don't get enough vitamin C, research shows that the collagen network in your gums can break down, making your gums tender and more susceptible to the bacteria that cause periodontal disease. Try This: Instead of topping your morning oatmeal with brown sugar, use a sliced kiwi.
5. Onions
Onions contain powerful antibacterial sulfur compounds.onions killed various types of bacteria.that they are most powerful when eaten freshly peeled and raw. Of course, raw onions can do a number on your breath, so be sure to have some fresh parsley on hand.

6. Parsley
Chewing parsley or mint leaves after a pungent meal will help you maintain sweet-smelling breath. These herbs contain monoterpenes, volatile substances that travel quickly from your bloodstream to your lungs, where their odor is released via your breath.
7. Sesame Seeds
Sesame seeds are also high in calcium, which helps preserve the bone around your teeth and gums. Try This: Sprinkle a tablespoon of sesame seeds on salads and steamed vegetables a few times a week for a gentle teeth cleaning and 87 mg of calcium.
8. Shiitake Mushrooms
A 2000 study in Caries Research showed that lentinan, a sugar found in shiitake mushrooms, prevents mouth bacteria from creating plaque. Try This: A few times a week, add four to five sliced shiitakes to soups or stir-fries. Buy fresh shiitakes or dried ones, which can be reconstituted by soaking them in hot water for about 25 minutes before use.
10. water
Drinking water keeps your gums hydrated and is the best way to stimulate saliva--your body's greatest defense against the bacteria that cause plaque and cavities. Rinsing your mouth with water also helps wash away trapped food particles that decompose in the mouth and cause bad breath.

You Are Not Sick You Are Thirsty

DEHYDRATION:
Dehydration is a condition that occurs when someone loses more fluids than he or she takes in. Dehydration isn't as serious problem for teens as it can be for babies or young children. But if you ignore your thirst, dehydration can slow you down.

SERIOUS CONDITIONS OF DEHYDRATION: 
 
 " In the case of dehydration,  the blood becomes thick and saturated, not being able to  flow properly. The excess of toxins must then be stored within the interstitial space surrounding the cells pending elimination for life to continue,  and over time this space begins to resemble a toxic waste site - an acidic medium. Since the cells cannot have the proper oxygenation and nutrition  they begin to change in form and function in order to survive.
The end stage of this process results in the cells not resembling normal cells at all, and they continue living by means of fermentation rather than the normal oxidative mechanisms. - This is when the oncologist will tell you that you have CANCER"

The Harmful Effects Result from Dehydration:

    * Tiredness
    * Migraine
    * Constipation
    * Muscle cramps
    * Irregular blood-pressure
    * Kidney problems
    * Dry skin
    * 20% dehydrated – Risk of death

Symptoms of Dehydration:

Here are some of the symptoms that you need more water:

    * Dark Urine – Dark Yellow or Orange in Color: Urine is generally pale yellow to clear when you have sufficient water intake. Dark color or smell strong indicates that you need to drink more water.
    * Dry Skin: Skin is the largest body organ and requires its share of water.
    * Thirst: Thirst is the most obvious sign that you're already dehydrated. It is always a good practice to drink more water when your are not thirsty, don’t wait until you're thirsty.
    * Hunger: Most people mistaken hungry is the indication to eat more, whereas in actual fact, you may be dehydrated. So before you have your meal, grab a glass of water.
    * Fatigue: Water is a source of energy, give you a boost in energy.

RECOMMENDATIONS:

Adults and children age 12 and older

If you become mildly to moderately dehydrated while working outside or exercising:

• Stop your activity and rest.
• Get out of direct sunlight and lie down in a cool spot, such as in the shade or an air-conditioned area.
• Prop up your feet.
• Take off any extra clothes.
• Drink a re hydration drink, water, juice, or sports drink to replace fluids and minerals. Drink 2qt of cool liquids over the next 2 to 4 hours. You should drink at least 10 glasses of liquid a day to replace lost fluids.
• Rest and take it easy for 24 hours, and continue to drink a lot of fluids. Although you will probably start feeling better within just a few hours, it may take as long as a day and a half to completely replace the fluid that you lost.

Children Ages 1 Through 11:

• Make sure your child is drinking often. Frequent, small amounts work best.
• For children with dehydration, an oral rehydration solution (ORS), half-strength orange juice, or plain water (if the child is eating food) may be used to replace lost fluids.
• Allow your child to drink as much fluid as he or she wants. Encourage your child to drink extra fluids. Children between the ages of 4 and 10 should drink at least 6 to 10 glasses of liquids to replace lost fluids.
• Cereal mixed with milk or water may also be used to replace lost fluids.

Newborns And Babies Younger Than 1 Year Of Age:

Don't wait until dehydration develops to replace lost fluids. Offer fluids to your baby often.

• If you breast-feed your baby, nurse him or her more often.
• If you use a bottle to feed your baby, the amount of fluid you use in the formula should be enough to replace lost fluids. Check with your child's doctor if you think you need to feed your baby more often.
• Use an oral rehydration solution (ORS) if mild or moderate dehydration develops. The amount of ORS your baby needs depends on his or her weight and how dehydrated he or she is. You can give the ORS in a dropper, spoon, or bottle.
• If your baby has started eating cereal, you may replace lost fluids with cereal. You also may feed your baby strained bananas and mashed potatoes if your child has had these foods before.