As the old saying goes, "an apple a day keeps the doctor away". Well, apples can also save you trips to the dentist. Though apples should never be thought of as a substitute for your toothbrush, toothpaste and floss, putting apples into your diet can help prevent cavities, ward off bad breath, and even keep your teeth looking whiter for longer. That could mean fewer fillings, better confidence and a reduced need for whitening treatments, all from eating a tasty piece of fruit.
1. Apples Produce Saliva
People often underestimate just how much saliva does for their oral health. Of course, one of saliva's main functions is to start breaking down your food in order to kick-start the digestion process and make swallowing easier, but that's not saliva's only responsibility.
Saliva is also antimicrobial, meaning that it attacks the bacteria that can form to create tooth decay. It can also remove stray food particles from your teeth. Apples are a particularly mouth-watering fruit that contain plenty of water, so eating one is a great way to get your saliva glands flowing richly. As an added plus, that high water content will help dilute the sugars in your mouth after a meal.
2. Apples Can Brush Your Teeth for You
Apples, particularly their skins, are very rich in fibre. The roughness that this creates will scrub against your teeth while you eat, helping to remove any particles of food and even remove staining compounds that have had a chance to build up throughout the day. If you've ever been told to eat an apple if you can't find a toothbrush, that's why.
Of course, apples still have sugar and acids in them, and they won't scrub your teeth anywhere near as effectively as an actual toothbrush, so you should never actually use them as a substitute. Instead apples are a great dessert, since they can help clean your teeth after eating a large meal.
3. Apples Help Get Rid of Bad Breath
The fact that fibre-rich apples are able to brush plaque and staining compounds away from your teeth is great, and they'll also scrub along your tongue and gums while being eaten. This will remove any of the bacteria that can collect along such areas to create bad breath, so apples can be used as a natural way to freshen up. Of course, they bring their own agreeable smell into the bargain.
Share30 November 2016
Miranda Raff here. My brother is a stressed-out dental student, so I'm starting this blog on his behalf. I work in a travel agency and my brother is mortified by the number of dental tourism stories I bring home. I book short holidays for people who seem as though they are going to enjoy some relaxation in an exotic country, only to learn that they plan to have cheap dental procedures. Whilst there are good dentists in developing countries, according to my brother, the complex procedures these people plan to have simply can't be finished in such a limited time. This blog is an attempt to inform you about the high skill levels and advanced technology found in Australian dental surgeries. New techniques are being developed every year and Australian dentists are at the forefront of offering these solutions. I really hope this blog helps you to appreciate our dentists.
