Most of us know that certain foods, like those high in sugar, can be damaging to your oral health. However, there are many foods that can help clean teeth and even remove plaque! To help our patients better understand the effects of their diet on their oral health, we’ve put together a list of foods that can remove plaque from teeth.

What Is Plaque?

Your mouth is full of bacteria that feed on sugar and starches in the food you eat. As bacteria builds up, it forms into a sticky, soft film that can contain millions of bacteria. Plaque can cause tooth decay, gum disease, and many other issues if not regularly removed.

What Foods Remove Plaque?

The first step in preventing the buildup of plaque is a good oral hygiene routine: brush your teeth twice daily for two minutes each time, floss each day, and visit our office regularly for professional cleaning and exams. However, there are certain foods that help clean your teeth while you eat.

Leafy Greens

Not only are leafy greens like kale and spinach superfoods chock full of nutrients, their high fiber content means they gently scrub your teeth as you eat. Even better, they’re easy to incorporate into your diet – just substitute some kale or spinach for lettuce in your next salad, sandwich, or smoothie!

Apples

An apple a day can keep the dentist away! Apples also have a high fiber content (especially the skin) that works like a toothbrush to clean teeth as you eat. If you’re not already a regular consumer of apples, consider adding them to your diet as both a tasty treat and a great way to clean teeth.

Carrots

Just like leafy greens and apples, carrots are full of fiber that gently cleans away plaque on your teeth as you eat. Snacking on carrots also stimulates saliva production, which naturally washes away debris left on teeth.