By Stone Falls Dental Care · Published
TL;DR
Brushing twice a day is only part of dental health, the post says, because diet matters too, and it lists eight foods. Crisp apples and raw vegetables help clear plaque and increase saliva, though it advises eating apples with meals, rinsing afterward and waiting 30 minutes to brush. Foods rich in vitamin C support the gums. It also covers strawberries, orange peel, banana peel, cranberries, sweet potatoes and leafy greens such as spinach.
The state of your dental health depends on your diet too. Brushing two times a day is not enough. The ongoing research indicates that antioxidants and other nutrients found in fruits and vegetables can work wonders on your smile. When at home, make some modifications in your diet for healthy teeth by including the following list of fruits and vegetables.
1. APPLES. An apple a day keeps the doctor away - this holds good for dentists too. The apple is also called a natural toothbrush, in fact, all crisp fruits and raw vegetables like carrot, celery, and apples help clean plaque and tartar from the teeth. They also reduce cavity-causing bacteria and increase the salivary flow in return keeping the oral cavity clean and healthy. However, make sure to eat apples at mealtimes, rather than as snacks (leave the skin on the apples, as they’re full of nutrients). Rinse with water after eating apples or drinking apple juice to minimize damage to the teeth. Wait to brush after eating apples. We don’t recommend brushing your teeth right after eating any sugary foods. Sugar acts as a sort of sandpaper and can damage your tooth enamel when you try to brush it immediately. Wait at least 30 minutes after a sugary snack like apples, and then brush your teeth.
2. VITAMIN C: get it from fruits and vegetables like oranges, lemon, mint and coriander tomato, and cucumber and pineapple and pear help protect your gums. Gums are the foundation of teeth and help to keep your teeth strong. Vitamin C is one of the key factors in periodontal health. It also helps build up the immunity of the body and helps fight any of the infections in the oral cavity.
3. STRAWBERRIES: their contents include a type of whitening enzyme malic acid which can do wonders for your smile. To get a pair of pearly white teeth, rub strawberry directly onto the teeth or make a puree and rub like a paste.
4. ORANGES. Orange peel rubbed on the tooth surface also gets them extra shiny and provides an extra dose of Vitamin C to the gums.
5. BANANAS: they are loaded with such amazing minerals like potassium magnesium and manganese. If you rub the inside of the banana peel for 2 minutes every day in 2 weeks on your teeth, it can work as teeth whitening. This will also help curb teeth sensitivity.
6. CRANBERRIES - recent studies indicate that fresh cranberries interrupt the bonding of oral bacteria before they form a layer of plaque on your teeth.
7. SWEET POTATOES: a rich source of vitamin that helps protect the enamel of your teeth and enhances their whiteness.
8. GREEN LEAFY VEGGIES provide you a healthy dose of vitamins for both gums and teeth. Spinach is rich in Vitamin A, Vitamin B2 and Vitamin B12 – all beneficial for your overall health.
Inputs by Dr. Tanvir Singh/ NDTV