6 Surprising Foods That Can Actually Boost Your Dental Health
By Dr Khaled Kasem, Chief Orthodontist at Impress Orthodontics
Did you know that the secret to good dental health can actually be found in your fridge, and among some very surprising foods? Many are often touted as being harmful to our teeth, but in fact, their benefits for enviable oral and dental health may be far greater.
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1 Dairy (cheese in particular) is a rich source of calcium and Vitamin D, which helps to strengthen teeth. The lactic acid in cheese can help to lift stains from tooth enamel as well, which makes it an apt food choice for all those smiley ‘Say Cheese’ photo moments!
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2 Dark chocolate may be one of our greatest temptations, but it is also pretty sweet at helping to fight cavities due to its grain containing powerful anti-bacterial agents. However, this doesn’t mean you should be indulging in chocolate, as you only need a small amount to benefit!
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3 Apples, aside from their nutrition content, being a hard and crunchy fruit, require more ‘chew’ which naturally increases saliva production, which as a result, serves as a protector of our teeth and helps to naturally remove dental plaque.
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4 Celery is one of the industry’s most recommended vegetables due to its natural anti-bacterial properties. Whether consumed in juices, soups or creams, the malic acid contained within celery also promotes saliva production to clean your teeth naturally.
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5 Strawberries contain a high amount of xylitol, which is responsible for attacking the bacteria that causes dental plaque.
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6 Blueberries are high in nutritional value and low in sugar content. Although well-known for its antioxidant properties, the blueberry is one of our greatest allies in preventing gum diseases such as gingivitis and periodontitis.
Moira Chisholm
I'm the Health Editor on My Weekly and am always interested to hear what's new in this fascinating field. I also deal with the gardening, shopping pages, general features, our website content and the Ask Helen problem page. I have a special interest in Christmas content because I'm on the team for Your Best Ever Christmas Magazine, too!
