NATURE’S SEEDS FOR HEALTHY TEETH

BT tells you about the smart fruits that are good for your whites

DR SHANTANU JARADI

 The bite that's better for you. We have only been thinking that fruits are nutritious for healthy living. Who would have thought that they not only help in living healthy but also give you long-lasting healthy teeth. Eating five portions of fruits a day helps us to keep our teeth healthy.
    So, what fruits could be good for your teeth and help you to keep your teeth healthy?
Apples:
An apple a day not only keeps doctor away but can also serve to give you long-lasting teeth. Eating apples rather than drinking juice does your teeth and gums a great favour. By doing this, you are actually stimulating, cleaning and strengthening your teeth while reducing the amount of sugar you are consuming.
    Good and healthy teeth are necessary for oral health and having good teeth makes you look younger. That is why you should visit a dentist regularly to help prevent problems before they get out of hand.
    Avoid misery from tooth decay and gulp in nature's free gifts that will imbibe in you not only a hale and hearty lifestyle but also healthy, long-lasting teeth.

Watermelon: C for yourself
A hefty 25 per cent of the daily value for Vitamin C could be found in two cups of watermelon. An essential vitamin healthy for your teeth and gums, Vitamin C helps in the absorption of iron. It also has antioxidant properties, helping to prevent cell damage by neutralising "free radicals" — molecules believed to be associated with dental aging. Studies have shown that people who eat foods high in vitamin C such as watermelon have lower rates of suffering from gum disease. A growing body of evidence suggests that people who eat enough fruit and vegetables to meet the daily requirements for vitamin C have healthier teeth than those who don't eat enough of these important foods.

Strawberry:
Strawberry is very effective in making teeth strong and clean. Strawberries have many properties such as bleaching and cleansing the teeth. These are very useful to remove tea and coffee stains from the teeth. So, don't forget to gulp in some strawberries between your meals. Strawberries packed with Vitamin C, iodine and pectin are not just delicious but also kind on your teeth as they are less acidic.

Bananas:
Go bananas! Have a banana rather than a handful of sweets and always aim to eat five pieces of fruit or vegetable a day.

Oranges:
Eat plenty of oranges for the Vitamin C which promotes healthy teeth and gums and aids the absorption of iron. Interestingly, chewable Vitamin C can cause enamel loss from teeth.

STRONG BITES: Eating apples rather than drinking juice does your teeth and gums a great favour