There’s that old adage that an apple a day keeps the doctor away. It’s not necessarily true, but an apple a day will make your doctor, or dentist in this case, very happy. Why? Because apples pack a punch when it comes to keeping you healthy. They have tons of health benefits, and while they can’t fight off every illness, they can definitely improve your teeth and impress your dentist during regular checkups.
So what qualities do apples have that help your teeth? Read on to find out.
Vitamins and Nutrients
Apples are packed with nutrients that help your entire body stay healthy, but here are the nutrients that specifically help your teeth.
Vitamin C: This protects the gums and other tissues in your mouth from becoming infected. If your gums aren’t healthy, your teeth won’t be healthy either, and infections could spread all around your mouth.
Malic acid: Acid is normally bad for your teeth, but this particular type of acid (along with the water content of the apple) makes you salivate. Saliva is your body’s natural defense against tartar and plaque, so having an influx of it in your mouth will help keep your teeth healthy. However, even malic acid will erode your teeth, so rinse your mouth after eating an apple.
Calcium: Apples don’t have a ton of calcium, but they have enough to help your teeth grow healthy and strong.
Fiber: Want tons of fiber? Eat an apple! Fiber keeps you full for a longer period of time, which discourages you from snacking and ultimately makes you eat less sugar. The less sugar that touches your teeth, the healthier they’ll be.
Miniature Toothbrush
Apples are crunchy, and they have an astringent texture that makes them perfect for cleaning your teeth. They’ll remove plaque on your teeth, and they’ll even whiten your smile. You’ll have to rinse your mouth afterwards to keep these benefits because apples do have acid and sugar in them. You can’t replace your regular fluoride and toothbrush with apples, so remember to brush!
A Happy Dentist
Go ahead: impress your dentist. Few foods can do as much as apples do for your teeth, so if you eat an apple every day, you’ll have a healthy, white smile in no time—not to mention you’ll enjoy a bunch of other health benefits. So add apples to your grocery list, and when your dental hygienist asks what your secret is, you can smile and say, “An apple a day.” To learn more about dental health secrets, contact Silverado Dental today!