### Tips for a Healthy Mouth #### Best Foods for Oral Health - **Cheeses**: Especially aged ones like cheddar, Monterey Jack, and Swiss. They help protect tooth enamel with calcium and phosphorus. - **Meats and Nuts**: These also help remineralize teeth. - **Green Vegetables**: Broccoli and spinach are great for those who are lactose intolerant. - **Firm/Crunchy Fruits and Vegetables**: Apples, pears, melons, celery, and cucumbers help dilute sugars and stimulate saliva flow. #### Foods to Avoid - **Sugary Snacks**: Candy, cookies, cakes, and pies can cause tooth decay. - **Starchy Foods**: Pretzels, potato chips, and french fries can also lead to cavities. - **Sticky Foods**: Caramel, honey, molasses, and dried fruits stick to teeth and fuel bacteria. #### Beverage Choices - **Best**: Water (especially fluoridated) and unsweetened tea. - **Limit**: Soft drinks, lemonade, and sugary coffee or tea. #### Sugar Substitutes - **Good Options**: Erythritol, isomalt, sorbitol, and mannitol. Xylitol can even help prevent cavities. - **Other Substitutes**: Saccharin, advantame, aspartame, acesulfame potassium, Neotame, and sucralose. #### Additional Tips - **Chewing Sugarless Gum**: Helps dislodge food and increases saliva flow, which neutralizes acids. - **Check Labels**: Look for natural sweeteners like honey, molasses, and fructose in sugar-free foods. By following these tips, you can maintain a healthy mouth and prevent dental issues.