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                      Nutrition for Healthy Teeth

                      Published by Life Extension

                      ThinkstockPhotos-458047741

                      Our teeth get a lot of attention. Whether we’re having a conversation or smiling for a picture, most of us want our teeth to be strong, healthy, and sparkling white.

                      However, many of us overlook something essential. In addition to a healthy oral routine of brushing, flossing, and regular dental checkups, nutrition also plays a large role in the health of our teeth.

                      Teeth not only respond to our nutrition, but they also are an important determinant of our nutritional intake. Their importance is evident in elderly populations, among whom gum disease, ill-fitting dentures, and other painful dental conditions can limit the type of food eaten.

                      Dental Cavities and Decay

                      Dental cavities are among the earliest observed manifestations of poor dental health. Their presence is attributable to insufficient brushing and flossing, and high intake of sugary food and drinks.

                      Soda, with its high phosphoric acid content, is linked with tooth enamel erosion and, if the soda contains sugar, tooth decay. Even drinks considered to be “healthier” like pure fruit juice can wreak havoc.

                      Calcium is Key for Tooth Enamel

                      Tooth enamel is formed mainly from calcium phosphate. Our saliva contains calcium and phosphorous ions that continually remineralize enamel.

                      While most people have an adequate amount of phosphorous, the same cannot be said for calcium, leading to the importance of its supplementation.

                      Minerals Can Reduce Tooth Loss Risk

                      A three-year trial showed that supplementation with calcium and vitamin D resulted in a lower risk for losing teeth, particularly when calcium intake was 1,000 mg per day.

                      Tooth Nutrition is Crucial for Pregnant Women

                      Children born from women who were supplementing with calcium during pregnancy have a lower risk of tooth decay and missing teeth. Similarly, pregnant women supplementing with vitamin D had less risk of having a child with a defect in dental enamel.

                      Calcium and Periodontal Disease Risk

                      Calcium intake of at least 800 mg a day has shown to reduce risk of periodontal disease, which is associated with tooth loss.

                      Selenium Supports Strong Teeth

                      It’s been thought that the mineral selenium may also be responsible for improved dental health. This makes sense, since one of the most important organic components in the tooth matrix is collagen, and it can be made stronger by selenium.

                      The Power of Probiotics for Teeth

                      Probiotics have recently received recognition for their role in cavity prevention. When children supplemented with the strain Lactobacillus reuteri during their first year of life, they were more likely to remain cavity-free at age nine.

                      Fluoride: Friend or Foe?

                      While fluoride has been shown to strengthen enamel, recent opinion holds that topical administration (via toothpastes, rinses, or fluoride treatments) may be more effective and safer than ingestion of fluoride (via water or pills).

                      The Bottom Line

                      Teeth need and respond to the intake of certain nutrients. Additionally, a healthy diet that limits the intake of simple sugars can help protect the teeth from the outside.

                      Although it is not yet possible to regrow missing teeth or parts of intact teeth, such medical wonders are on the horizon. Currently, dental implants are impervious to decay. However, it is best to keep one’s own natural teeth as long as possible and sound nutrition is one way to help make it happen.

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                      Life Extension
                      Life Extension
                      LIFE EXTENSION The Life Extension Health News team delivers accurate information about vitamins, nutrition and aging. Our stories rely on multiple, authoritative sources and experts. We keep our content accurate and trustworthy, by submitting it to a medical reviewer. Life Extensionists are people who believe in taking advantage of documented scientific therapies to help maintain optimal health and slow aging. The medical literature contains thousands of references on the use of antioxidant vitamins, weight loss supplements, and hormones that have been shown to improve the quality and quantity of life. Life Extensionists attempt to take advantage of this scientific information to enhance their changes of living longer in good health. This article is posted by permission of Life Extension.

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                      This website is for informational and entertainment purposes only and is not a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. FoodTrients – A Recipe for Aging Beautifully Grace O, author and creator of FoodTrients® -- a philosophy, a cookbook and a resource -- has a new cookbook dedicated to age-defying and delicious recipes, The Age Beautifully Cookbook: Easy and Exotic Longevity Secrets from Around the World, which provides one hundred-plus recipes that promote health and well-being. The recipes are built on foundations of modern scientific research and ancient knowledge of medicinal herbs and natural ingredients from around the world. Since the publication of her first anti-aging book, The Age GRACEfully Cookbook, Grace O has identified eight categories of FoodTrients benefits (Anti-inflammatory, Antioxidant, Immune Booster, Disease Prevention, Beauty, Strength, Mind, and Weight Loss) that are essential to fighting aging, which show how specific foods, herbs, and spices in the recipes help keep skin looking younger, prevent the diseases of aging, and increase energy and vitality. Grace O combines more exotic ingredients that add age-fighting benefits to familiar recipe favorites.

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