5 foods that are good for your teeth

Our teeth are what we eat, and today's lifestyles have wreaked havoc on our dental health. Most people know the foods that are bad for their teeth, especially all that is sugary, but do you know which foods are good for your teeth?

Eve Woman spoke to Dr Mitchell Kisia, a dentist Nairobi Premier Dental Clinic, who gave us some insight into how to practice "preventive dentistry." Here are five foods that should replace those sweets and ice-cream with to preserve our pearly whites.

1. APPLES An apple a day keeps the dentist away, but did you know that apples are also known as nature's toothbrush? The strong pulp in apples stimulates the gums to produce saliva. Apples also have naturally occurring fruit acid knows as malic acid, which cleanses the teeth, in addition to condensed tannins whose properties may help prevent gum disease.

2. CARROTS Apples and carrots seem to be peas in a pod, as apples are good for you for the same reasons that carrots are. Steve Jobs' biography reveals that he would go for weeks at a time eating the same food and nothing else, so one time he went on an apples-and-carrots-only diet. His teeth probably became strong, but his skin also turned orange -something doctors confirm can actually happen if you eat too many carrots, though it is harmless.

Dr Kisia reveals that carrots are natural abrasives. "Raw carrot has fiber which has a cleansing effect on the teeth. They also increase saliva flow hence reduce incidences of caries or cavities as the saliva rinses away bacteria and food remnants," he says.

3. YOGHURT "Yoghurt has lots of 'good' bacteria which act to neutralize the effect of harmful bacteria especially in your gum region," says Dr Kisia. He explains that yoghurt has high calcium content which is also beneficial to your teeth.

"Teeth are practically made of calcium," he says. However, as you indulge in this comfort food, indulge with caution, as not all yoghurt is created equal. "Preferably take the plain ones with no sugar additives because you might get the opposite effect," says Kisia.

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4. GREENS/VEGETABLES Kirsten Dunst is one of the few Hollywood celebrities who have refused to modify their teeth for the big screen. She told Hello Magazine that for her to stay healthy, "It's simple – eat clean, eat vegetables." Doing this is probably why she is perfectly OK with her natural teeth, which she lovingly refers to as her "snaggle fangs."

Dr Kisia explains that greens and vegetables contain high vitamin and mineral content such as calcium for the enamel and folic acid for the gums , which reduces or prevents bleeding or gum disease. Greens also contain a high fiber content, which in turn means that the cleansing effect on the teeth is high.

5. CHEESE The making of cheese goes back 4,000 years but a Euromonitor report indicates that it is only just gaining popularity in Kenya. This is good news because eating cheese can help your teeth stay camera-ready (say cheese!), keeping them strong and white.

"It basically raises the pH of your saliva, making it an unsuitable environment for bacteria to live in, which reduces the risk of decay," says Dr Kisia. Just like yoghurt, cheese also contains a high calcium content required for strong tooth enamel.