Nutrition to Prevent Tooth Breakage

Calcium

Calcium gives teeth their hardness; around 99 percent of the calcium in your body is stored in the bones and teeth, according to the Office of Dietary Supplements. Getting enough calcium from dairy products such as milk, yogurt and cheese helps build strong teeth. Leafy green vegetables, fortified orange juice and tofu also contain calcium, if you don't eat dairy. Women and men between the ages of 19 and 50 and children aged 4 to 8 need 1,000 milligrams of calcium per day; after age 50 for women and 70 for men, the daily requirement increases to 1,200 milligrams. Children between the ages of 9 and 13 need 1,300 milligrams per day.

Vitamin D

The calcium you eat won't get to your teeth and bones unless you also get enough vitamin D in your diet. Vitamin D helps your body absorb calcium in the intestines. Your body can synthesize vitamin D in the skin if you spend time in the sunlight; fatty fish, egg yolks, fortified milk and orange juice and cod liver oil also supply vitamin D. Everyone between the ages of 1 and 70 needs 600 international units of vitamin D per day. After age 70, men and women need 800 international units daily.

Avoid Simple Sugars

The biggest culprit in causing cavities and soft teeth prone to breakage is sugar in your diet. When sugar combines with plaque, a coating of bacteria on your teeth, it produces acids, which attack the surface of the tooth, causing erosion. Soft drinks and fruit juices, which contain both sugar and acid, are especially bad for your teeth. Whenever you drink soda or juice or eat foods high in simple sugars, rinse your mouth with water. Don't brush your teeth for at least 30 minutes; the acids attack the enamel within minutes and soften the teeth. Brushing immediately can cause more erosion, according to Dr. Peter Alldritt of the Australian Dental Association's oral health committee.

Eat Your Vegetables

Fibrous fruits and vegetables such as apples, carrots and celery, stimulate the gums, especially when eaten raw. Vegetables also contain vitamins such as vitamins A and C and minerals necessary to promote healthy teeth and gums. Fruits and vegetables are also high in fiber, which stimulates saliva production. Saliva helps neutralize the acids that form on your teeth.

Fluoride

Few foods contain fluoride, a mineral that helps prevent tooth decay and breakage by strengthening the enamel on your teeth. While all water contains some fluoride, many cities add supplemental fluoride to the drinking water. Foods that supply fluoride to your diet include tea; grape juice; fish, especially if canned with bones, such as sardines; and canned meats such as chicken. If you don't get enough fluoride in your water or diet, fluoride supplements can help keep your teeth strong.