Maintaining good oral health is a challenge. While cleaning your teeth regularly and seeing the dentist is imperative, there are other things you can (and should) do to keep your teeth healthy. One of the things you can do to keep your teeth strong is to eat calcium-rich foods. Do you want strong, healthy teeth? Here’s what you need to know.
How Calcium Contributes to Healthy Teeth
A typical adult needs 1,000 mg of calcium per day. Women over 50 and men over age 71 need 1,200 mg per day. Adults who don’t get enough calcium will become calcium deficient. When this happens, their bodies will start to take calcium from their bones and teeth, causing them to become weaker. This can lead to cavities, broken teeth, and more.
Foods That Are High in Calcium
There are many foods that are high in calcium. Below are some foods you can eat to ensure that you get enough calcium in your everyday diet.
Milk
Years ago, there were only a few milk choices available in grocery stores. Today, you can enjoy cow milk, almond milk, and more. Almond milk is often higher in calcium than cow milk! If you do choose an alternative to cow milk, avoid milk that is high in sugars and has special flavorings.
Other Dairy Products
Of course, cheese and yogurt are also excellent sources of calcium. If you don’t like milk, you can integrate these alternatives into your diet as well.
Canned Fish
Canned fish like tuna can be high in calcium. That’s all the more reason to eat more tuna fish sandwiches and to mix tuna into your everyday foods. Try mixing tuna into your pasta casseroles, pasta salad, and more!
Seeds
Seeds make great snacks. They’re also very tasty when they’re mixed into salads, snack mixes, granola mixes, and more.
Dark Leafy Greens
Dark, leafy greens are good for you in so many ways – and calcium is just one of those ways. Eat spinach salads with dinner, or incorporate spinach into your morning blended smoothie.
Almonds
Of course, the reason that almond milk is so high in calcium is that almonds themselves are very high in calcium. The healthiest way to eat almonds is raw, but you can also eat them salted and roasted.
Beans and Lentils
Beans and lentils should be an important part of your diet – especially if you’re a vegetarian. Mix beans and lentils into soups and salads, tacos, casseroles, and more.
Fortified Foods
Some foods come fortified with calcium. Look for the “fortified with calcium” label on the foods next time you go to the grocery store.
Want Healthier Teeth? See the Dentist
The best way to ensure that your teeth are healthy and strong is to clean your teeth regularly and see your dentist every six months. Schedule a visit with Weninger Dentistry to maintain your teeth in 2022!