“Better oral health” is a great New Year’s resolution, but reaching it is easier said than done. Many people don’t know how to begin this project or think it’d take too much effort. With that said, you could easily start by eating more foods high in fluoride; they’d quickly strengthen your smile. Your local Superior dentist can even share a few examples with you. So, keep reading to learn four high-fluoride foods you should add to your diet.
Grapes, Raisins, or Wine
While sweet things often harm teeth, that’s not always the case. Fruity grapes, raisins, and wine have enough fluoride to be an exception.
Indeed, grapes and grape-based products are natural sources of fluoride. White wine alone has twice as much as red wine, and raisins have one of the highest fluoride levels of any food. You could get plenty of the mineral just by eating grapes from your local supermarket or a raisin-type snack. Just make sure the product you get isn’t also high in sugar.
Potatoes
People often view potatoes as bland at best or empty carbs at worst. However, these brown-skinned veggies are a great source of fluoride.
Potatoes can greatly improve your oral health with the right preparation. For example, boiling one yields 67.2 mcg of fluoride; that’s two percent of an adult’s daily recommended intake. Baked potatoes and hash browns also have twice as much of the mineral as French fries!
Black Tea
Even if you don’t drink tea much, you should make black tea one of your “regular” drinks. It has loads of fluoride that would better protect your teeth from bacteria.
When it’s brewed well, you’ll get more than enough fluoride from black tea. A single cup of the beverage offers 883.8 mcg – 22% of your suggested daily intake. Still, don’t assume that its fluoride comes from tap water; the tea leaves have the mineral. You should also note that black tea can stain teeth, so try drinking it with a straw.
Spinach
Did you know spinach is a superfood packed with vitamins and minerals? Well, this leafy green’s nutritional value also stems from its high fluoride content.
Just one cup of cooked spinach has 68 mcg of fluoride, 2% of the suggested daily intake. That means it’s worth adding as a side dish to all sorts of meals and as a potential snack. You could also count on it for vitamin C, which strengthens your immune system.
All in all, it’s pretty easy to eat foods high in fluoride. Add them to your meals to make headway toward a healthier smile!
About the Practice
Hill Avenue Dental is based in Superior, WI. Led by Dr. H. Douglas Clark III, our practice blends technology and comfort to provide the best dental care possible. We take this approach so our preventive, cosmetic, and restorative treatments suit your smile’s specific needs. That way, you and your family will end each appointment with truly healthier and prettier grins! For more details or to book a visit, please contact us on our website or by phone at (715)-392-5161.