Fluoride is key for healthy teeth, but you don’t have to depend entirely on your toothpaste to get it. Many drinks and foods can help raise your level. If your dentist suggests you have more of this mineral, knowing about these items can be valuable as you make day-to-day nutritional decisions. Keep reading to learn from your dentist in Houston about some tasty beverages and foods with fluoride that can aid your oral health!
What Foods Should You Incorporate to Increase Your Fluoride Intake?
While you may already have many of the following items in your refrigerator or pantry, you might consider visiting the grocery store to expand your dietary options.
- Black Tea or Coffee: When you brew black tea with tap water, you’ll get fluoride from two sources. The tea leaves contain the mineral. Similarly, if you brew coffee with tap water, you get a double dose of fluoride.
- Raw Fruit: You’ll be happy to know that most raw fruit has fluoride! Look to apples, bananas, peaches, watermelons, and avocados – they are indeed fruit, and many others offer a tasty way to help your teeth.
- Shrimp: Like crab and other shellfish, shrimp are an excellent source of fluoride. Considering how many ways shrimp is served, this opens a world of possibilities for strengthening your teeth.
- Crab: A favorite seafood option of many, crab has a prominent level of fluoride. Crab legs are an excellent choice, and blue crab in particular provides a beneficial amount of the mineral.
- Potatoes: Baked potatoes, particularly russet potatoes, have a significant amount of fluoride. Any potato, prepared in any fashion, will contain some fluoride, with French fries on the lower end of the scale. If you are trying to justify having some fries with your burger, however, there you go.
- Grapes, Raisins, and Wine: In all their forms, grapes contain fluoride. If you were searching for a reason to have another glass of wine, here you go – be sure to brush your teeth later due to the acidity and staining potential. Raisins have the most concentrated fluoride and the most sugar, so it’s a give-and-take situation. In general, grapes are great for your health.
- Other Potential Items: To give each a quick mention, here are some other foods with fluoride: almond milk, light beer, black bean soup, white rice, oysters, asparagus, cooked oatmeal, carrots, and spinach.
Can You Have Too Much Fluoride?
Indeed, it is possible to be exposed to too much fluoride. Dental fluorosis, or excessive fluoride exposure, can produce white spots on teeth or, in more severe cases, brown spots.
This is why it is essential that children be old enough to spit properly when brushing their teeth with fluoride toothpaste.
Although many researchers and experts disagree on the safety of fluoride use and its integration into public water systems, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that 63% of U.S. residents have access to fluoridated community water.
The good news is that the risk of overexposure is pretty low in the food items mentioned here. Children need about 500 micrograms, and adults require about 3,000-4,000 micrograms per day.
Who Benefits Most From Fluoride?
Both children and adults benefit from fluoride intake and application. Whether it’s coming from your diet, toothpaste, water, or dentist’s office, this natural mineral remains “nature’s cavity fighter” for a reason. It doesn’t just protect growing teeth, but it also safeguards more mature smiles that are prone to cavities.
However, ensuring children receive sufficient fluoride during these early years of development improves their chances of maintaining healthier, cavity-free smiles as they grow into adulthood.
Why Is Fluoride Intake So Important?
Fluoride is important for teeth because it reduces the risk of cavities in adults and children. It is absorbed into your teeth’s enamel. The mineral then goes to work replenishing your teeth’s supply of phosphorus and calcium.
This is important because phosphorus and calcium work together to keep your teeth strong. The technical name for this process is “remineralization.” Fluoride also helps prevent tooth decay – thereby reducing the risk of cavities and the need for restorative treatment, such as dental fillings or crowns.
If you aren’t convinced by now, ask your dentist in Houston about fluoride during your next visit!
About the Practice
At Sunrise Dental Center, you should expect personalized dentistry that prioritizes comfort and affordability. We have been working hard to bring smiles to the greater Houston area since 1986. With four dentists on staff, we can offer a wide array of treatments, and appointments are available during early mornings and Saturdays for your convenience. Try to eat more of these foods with fluoride, and then we can provide a fluoride treatment during your next checkup and cleaning. Schedule it on our website or call (713) 357-4008.
