In the modern, health-conscious age, many Americans are giving up meat in an effort to lose weight or foster a healthier heart. Unfortunately, such people sometimes fail to account for the implications that a meat-free diet has on their oral health. If you are trying to make the transition to vegetarianism yourself, be sure to tailor your diet to foster healthy teeth.
One of the benefits of eating meat is that it is a low-carb, high-fiber food. This means that it scrubs your teeth as you chew it, removing plaque, sugars, and food particles. It is true that many fruits and vegetables can have the same effect, though many of these contain sugars for your oral bacteria to feed on.
Fortunately, there are good options to replace the fiber that you would usually be getting from meat. Your best choices include high fiber, low acid beans, legumes, and whole grains. Not only are these high in fiber, but they are also a good way to get meat-free calcium you need to keep your teeth and bones healthy.
