Oral health isn’t just about brushing your teeth. Outside beauty starts from within — and a lot depends on what you’re putting into your body. Of course, the key to a healthy mouth and a bright smile is brushing your teeth at least twice a day, flossing and visiting the dentist for regular checkups. But it turns out the old saying “you are what you eat,” can affect your smile as well.

Try adding these healthy habits to your daily life to improve your overall oral health.

Apples – Of course, eating an apple or two every day won’t be enough to keep you completely out of the doctor’s office, but apples can do wonders for your mouth. First, regularly eating apples can help prevent tooth decay. When you are chewing an apple, it creates a large amount of saliva in your mouth, which reduces tooth decay by reducing the number of bacteria. If that’s not enough to get you to buy apples as soon as possible, here’s another perk: eating apples regularly can improve bad breath.

Fruits and vegetables – Just like with applies, most fruits and vegetables are dental super foods that produce saliva, which fights off bacteria. Broccoli is one vegetable that stands out above the rest for oral health. Not only does it fight bacteria, but broccoli also contains vitamin C and vitamin E, which both aid the body in the healing process. In addition to making your teeth stronger, broccoli contains high amounts of iron, which is especially awesome because it actually forms a type of barrier around your teeth that protects your enamel.

Dairy – If you can tolerate lactose, next time you’re at the grocery store grab yourself a few cups of yogurt for optimal oral health. The best yogurts for dental health include Greek and plain yogurt because they contain the most probiotics (the good bacteria). These create an environment where it’s difficult for cavity-causing bacteria to thrive. Other health benefits of yogurt are the high amounts of calcium and protein, which both keep your teeth strong.

While nothing beats brushing your teeth, if you are prone to cavities or other oral health problems, consider these few diet additions part of your oral health plan.