Fruits and Veggies That Make Smiles Shine

Posted on September 9, 2016 in General oral health

Getting plenty of fruits and vegetables is essential to keeping your body healthy, and your smile is no exception. The fiber in fruits and vegetables stimulates saliva, which keeps the mouth moist and makes it difficult for harmful bacteria to grow. Fruits and veggies also provide vitamins and minerals such as calcium, iron and vitamin C. Respectively, they help strengthen enamel, promote tongue health and contribute to healthy gums.

In honor of National Fruit and Veggie Month, try eating these foods, which are packed with the vitamins and minerals your teeth love.

• Peppers – from sweet green bells to spicy jalapenos – are rich sources of vitamin C,¹ a nutrient that helps your bones and teeth heal and fight off infections. 

• Strawberries are high in vitamin C. In fact, if you compare ounce for ounce, strawberries are a better source of vitamin C than oranges.² It only takes about five large strawberries to meet 98 percent of your daily vitamin C requirement.

• Broccoli is a great non-dairy source of calcium. If you're lactose intolerant, load up on broccoli and other dark green veggies.

• Carrots, pumpkin and sweet potato³ are all high in vitamin A, which is critical for healthy tooth enamel.⁴

Green leafy vegetables and peas are all options rich in iron.⁵ Additionally, spinach is a great source of folic acid, which helps strengthen gums and soft tissues in your mouth.

¹ http://www.webmd.com/food-recipes/features/health-benefits-of-peppers
² http://healthyeating.sfgate.com/stawberries-vitamin-c-oranges-3225.html
³ http://www.womenshealthmag.com/food/vitamin-a-foods
⁴ http://www.livestrong.com/article/210717-what-vitamins-help-teeth-enamel/
⁵ http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/iron-deficiency-anemia/basics/prevention/con-20019327