Creative Commons image by Andrew Yee.
Fall is a great time for cozying up and enjoying warm comfort foods. Sometimes, however, these special fall foods are less than friendly when it comes to your dental health. While you probably already know that sticky (but delicious) pecan pie, the kids’ leftover Halloween candy, and pancakes coated in maple syrup are not the best choices as far as dental health goes, you might not realize that some typical fall foods are actually great for your teeth. Here are some of them.
Apples
Apples are great for crunching into, especially in the fall when they’re freshly picked! Whether you like Red Delicious, McIntosh, Honeycrisp or Granny Smith, you’re sure to find an apple that you love this time of year. Not only does an apple a day keep the doctor away, but it can help keep you out of the dental chair, too. The light abrasiveness of the fruit can scrub away plaque, and apples, like most fruits, contain antioxidants that boost your overall health, including your dental health. Go ahead and indulge in apples whenever you want this fall.
Pumpkin Seeds
Are you carving pumpkins into jack o’lanterns? If so, be sure to scrape out the seeds! You can roast them in the oven (try sprinkling with salt and pepper, then roasting in a cookie sheet at 425 degrees for 20-30 minutes, stirring every 10 minutes or so) for a delicious, fall-inspired treat. Pumpkin seeds contain a lot of phosphorus, which is a mineral essential for healthy, strong teeth. They also contain fiber and are an excellent substitute for other crunchy snacks, like potato chips or crackers.
Tea
You might want to cuddle up under a blanket and enjoy a cup of something hot and steamy this time of year. A cup of tea is often better for teeth than hot chocolate or mulled cider. It contains no sugar (go easy when adding your own!), and the tannic acid and antioxidants in tea are great for tooth and gum health. Try green, black, or white tea, and stick to herbal varieties if you don’t want to add caffeine to your day.
Cranberries
This is the time of year when you can stock up on fresh cranberries. This tart fruit is great for disrupting plaque in its tracks. If you’re adding sugar and jellying it, it will cut down on the benefits, so go ahead and eat a few fresh to scrub away plaque and boost your antioxidant intake.
No matter what you’re eating, you want to be sure to brush and floss regularly, just like you would any other time of the year. Incorporating some of these fall foods into your diet can make you healthier overall and also add to your dental health. Give them a try!
