Basics of Oral Health 3: Water and Tooth Healthy Foods

Basics of Oral Health 3: Water and Tooth Healthy Foods

Goal: Learn how eating tooth healthy foods and drinking water helps keep teeth healthy.

Big Bites: Things You Should Know

  • Water is the best drink to keep your teeth and body healthy.
  • Water may contain fluoride, a natural mineral that helps prevent cavities.
  • Tooth healthy foods and drinks are low in sugar and high in fiber and nutrients, such as fruits, vegetables, cheeses, meat and beans, and whole grain breads and pastas.
  • Tooth unhealthy foods and drinks are starchy and high in sugar,  such as crackers, dried fruit, chips, cookies, as well as juice and soda pop.
  • Eating tooth unhealthy foods creates an acid that attacks teeth.
  • Continual snacking on tooth unhealthy foods or drinking juice or soda causes repeated acid attacks. Repeated acid attacks cause cavities.
  • It is important to have meals and snacks at regularly scheduled times. This reduces the number of acid attacks on teeth.