Chew On This: 8 Foods that are Healthy For your Teeth

Tea: Compounds called polyphenols, found in black and green teas, slow the growth of bacteria associated with cavities and gum disease. Researchers at the University of Illinois at Chicago found that people who rinsed their mouths with black tea for one minute, 10 times a day, had less plaque buildup on their teeth than people who rinsed their mouths with water. What's more, the size and stickness of their plaque was reduced.
Tea undermines the ability of some bacteria to clump together with other bacteria.
In a 2010 study published in the Journal of Dental Research, that tea, especially black tea, fights halitosis, or bad breath. "Polyphenols suppress the genes of bacteria that control the production of smelly compounds in the mouth.

Cheese: Research published in the journal General Dentistry earlier this year reported that 12- to 15-year-olds who ate cheddar cheese had lower acid levels in their mouths than those who ate sugar-free yogurt or drank a glass of milk.
After eating the foods, the adolescents and teens rinsed their mouths with water. The acid, or pH, levels in their mouths were then measured 10, 20 and 30 minutes after rinsing. Those who drank milk or ate yogurt showed no change in their pH levels, but the cheese eaters had a rapid drop at each measurement interval. 
  What's more, chewing increases saliva production.  Saliva washes out some of the bacteria in the mouth.

Raisins: Naturally sweet, raisins don't contain sucrose, or table sugar. Sugar helps bacteria stick to the tooth surface, letting them produce plaque, Wu said. Raisins are also a source of phytochemicals, which may kill cavity-causing plaque bacteria. Some compounds in raisins also affect the growth of bacteria associated with gum disease.

Crunchy foods: It takes serious chewing to break down foods such as carrots, apples and cucumbers. But all that crunching isn't in vain. Chewing may disturb dental plaque, and serve as a cleansing mechanism. 

Vitamin-rich foods: Foods containing calcium — such as cheese, almonds and leafy greens — and foods high in phosphorous — such as meat, eggs and fish — can help keep tooth enamel strong and healthy, according to the American Dental Association.
 Acidic foods and beverages may cause tiny lesions on tooth enamel. Calcium and phosphate help redeposit minerals back into those lesions. Calcium is also good for bones, including your jaw.

Sugarless gum: Pop a stick in your mouth after eating. Chewing boosts saliva secretion, clearing away some bacteria.  The keyword here is "sugarless." Bacteria rely on sucrose to produce plaque.

Milk: In a study published in the Journal of the American Dental Association in July, Wu and her team found that drinking a glass of milk after downing dry, sugar-sweetened Fruit Loops lowered levels of acid in the mouth more than drinking water or apple juice did.
 Milk neutralizes some of the acid produced by plaque bacteria.   Drinking a glass of milk after eating a sweet dessert, like chocolate cake, may protect teeth, too.

Cranberries: Cranberries contain polyphenols (just as tea does), which may keep plaque from sticking to teeth, thus lowering the risk of cavities, according to a study published in the journal Caries Research.