Foods You Can Really Bite Into

With Halloween fast approaching, your dentist is probably cringing just thinking about the Reese's Cups, M&Ms and Hershey bars you're stocking up on and the damage they'll do to your teeth. But there are dentist-approved foods that will actually strengthen your teeth and gums, though offering them to Trick or Treaters might get your windows soaped.

Here's a list of foods from the Academy of General Dentistry that fight tooth decay and gum disease naturally. You might want to stock up before your Halloween gorge.

• Rebuild tooth enamel by eating yogurt, cheese and milk -- all good sources of bone-building calcium. The temporary coating calcium products form on your teeth also helps prevent tooth decay by protecting teeth against the natural acids in your mouth.
• Boost gum health with grapefruit which aids in wound healing and prevents collagen breakdown which can loosen teeth. In a German study, grapefruit decreased gum bleeding significantly. Because the acid in grapefruit can temporarily decrease the strength of tooth enamel, dentists recommend waiting 30 minutes before brushing. Also, check with your doctor or pharmacist before adding grapefruit to your diet as it interacts unfavorably with some medicines.
• Kill mouth bacteria by snacking on kiwis, oranges, limes, cranberries and strawberries. All are rich in vitamin C with is a powerful killer of oral bacteria. Green tea contains catechins that also fight mouth bacteria; and the phytochemicals in those super spicy foods you love, like wasabi and jalapenos, inhibit germ growth.
• Freshen your breath with mint and parsley which kill mouth bacteria and sweeten breath.
• Whiten teeth by eating cauliflower, spinach, lettuce and broccoli. The minerals in these veggies form a protective film on teeth that helps prevent stains from penetrating enamel. Strawberries have a bleaching effect on tooth enamel; and hard crunchy foods like carrots, nuts and seeds destroy plaque as you chew. Go easy on known stain makers: red wine, cola and coffee.

So fill your plate with these great tooth-healthy foods and SMILE all the way to the dentist!