Your diet affects your teeth every time you eat. The question is not only what you eat, but how often.

Foods that help

  • Water. Rinses food away and keeps saliva flowing. Fluoridated water adds protection where available.
  • Curd, milk, paneer and cheese. Provide calcium and phosphate, and cheese can help neutralise acid.
  • Crunchy vegetables and fibrous fruit. Carrots, cucumber and apple stimulate saliva and gently clean tooth surfaces.
  • Nuts and seeds. Low in sugar and provide minerals.
  • Green leafy vegetables. Rich in calcium and vitamins that support gums.
  • Unsweetened tea. May reduce plaque bacteria, though it can stain.

Foods and drinks to limit

  • Sticky sweets, toffee and dried fruit that cling to teeth
  • Fizzy drinks, sweetened juices and energy drinks, which are both sugary and acidic
  • Sweet chai and coffee sipped throughout the day
  • Biscuits, chips and white bread, whose starches break down into sugars and lodge in grooves
  • Frequent snacking that keeps the mouth acidic
  • Ice chewing and very hard foods, which can crack teeth

Smart habits

  1. Keep sweet foods to mealtimes rather than all day.
  2. Drink acidic or sweet drinks quickly, with a straw if you like, and not by sipping.
  3. Rinse with water after sweet or acidic food.
  4. Wait about 30 minutes before brushing after acid.
  5. End meals with cheese, curd or a glass of water instead of a sweet.

Connecting diet to dental problems

Sugar frequency drives cavities. Learn more in how cavities form. Acidic foods also contribute to sensitive teeth.

For personalised advice, our preventive care team can review your diet and teeth together.