Fall Favorites That Are Great for Your Oral Health – You Might Be Craving Number Two Right Now!

The leaves are changing color, the days are getting shorter, and the temperatures continue to fall, as autumn gets into full swing! It’s the time of year for apple picking, baking pumpkin pies, and warming up with a cup of hot cider … and the really good news is that you can enjoy these seasonal favorites without guilt since they are great for your teeth too!

Apples
People flock to orchards to enjoy a favorite fall pastime – apple picking. This yummy fall fruit is also a powerful natural instrument for improving your oral health! Eating the crunchy fiber-rich skin of the apple serves to “scrub” your teeth and when eaten regularly can remove plaque and stains over time. This same scrubbing action also helps to remove food residue from your tongue and gums, which in turn prevents bad breath.

Pumpkin
Another fall staple – pumpkins – are picked for decoration, carving into jack-o-lanterns, and of course baking into pies and other tasty treats! Many of the characteristics that make pumpkins wonderful for your overall health also make them especially good for your teeth. They are an excellent source of zinc, which is a bone strengthener, as well as vitamin C, which protects gums and promotes the development and re-mineralization of teeth. They are also a wonderful source of potassium, which helps to maintain normal blood pressure and prevents hypertension that can prevent the success of certain dental procedures.

Cinnamon
Often added to hot apple cider, as well as pies and muffins to enhance flavors, this spice is one of the most concentrated forms of antioxidants, which when consumed, helps to eliminate certain toxins in the body and mouth that can lead to infection or even cancer. Additionally, the essential oil found in cinnamon that produces its signature smell and taste – cinnamic aldehyde – also prevents the growth of bacteria that can cause cavities. A natural antimicrobial, antiviral, antifungal, and anesthetic, historically, it has also been used to numb teeth and gums, including the gums of teething infants.

Learn more or call us today call us at (908) 998-4698 to schedule an appointment!