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Friday, February 11, 2011

Top 7 Foods to Protect your Teeth and Gums


The type of food you eat can really affect your healthy smile just like flossing and brushing, imagine! In fact, every time you eat sugar or converted starch, help bacteria in the mouth to form acid more and more, which causes all kinds of dental caries, gingival and periodontal problems. Some foods can naturally fight tooth decay, preventing plaque build-up that makes your enamel stronger and gives you fresh breath.

1.Celery
celeryChewing raw celery can protect your teeth in many ways; it will stimulate more salivary flow thus washing harmful bacteria, besides, celery is a natural abrasive food which can cause massaging of your gingiva and removing of the accumulated foods between your teeth.
2.Green tea
green teaGreen tea contains very potent antioxidants called catechins; these substances are proved to kill oral bacteria which can convert sugar to plaque. Catechins can also eliminate the bacteria which causes halitosis. Try to drink two to five cups of green tea (decaffeinated) regularly.
3.Kiwis
kiwisKiwis are very rich in vitamin C; actually, a big kiwi can provide you with more than your daily recommended dose of vitamin C by 100%.
Well, vitamin C is very important for the integrity of the collagen fibers in your gingiva, if this collagen network is impaired, the bacteria can easily attack and invade your gingiva, causing you inflamed and bleeding gums.
4.Parsley
parsleyIf you chew parsley or mint after a pungent meal, you will maintain a fresh breath for a long time. As such herbs are rich in volatile substances called monoterpenes which travel quickly through your blood to reach your lungs, and their nice smell will be released in your breath.
5.Shiitake Mushrooms
Shiitake MushroomsA recent study has suggested that shiitake mushroom contains a special type of sugar known as lentinan; this sugar can prevent oral bacteria from forming dental plaque.
6.Wasabi
wasabiSubstance which causes Wasabi or Japanese horse-radish to be very hot is called isothiocyanates. In 2000, scientists have proved that isothiocyanates inhibits the growth of bacteria causing tooth decay. Believe it; eating wasabi few times weekly can protect your teeth from dental caries.
7.Water
waterIt is recommended to drink eight glasses of pure water daily, actually, this is the best way to keep your gingiva hydrated and maintain a good salivary flow. Saliva is your best natural defense mechanism against harmful bacteria that causes dental caries and oral plaque. Furthermore, if it is difficult to brush your teeth after each meal, make sure you rinse your mouth with pure water, as water can wash excess food debris from your mouth and deprive harmful oral bacteria from their major source of nutrition.

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