Benefits of Eating Apples for Teeth and Oral Health
We all have heard of the proverb ‘an apple a day keeps the doctor away’. A growing body of research suggests that we can now change it to ‘an apple a day keeps the dentist away’. Yes, it is true that the inclusion of apple in one’s regular diet brings tremendous benefits for periodontal health. This is particularly beneficial for the oral and dental health of children
In this blog post, we are going to discuss how apples are a healthy addition to dental diets. Our discussion will primarily be focused on how apples benefit school-going children.
School Children Are at Greater Risk of Tooth Cavities
As per the report published by the Academy of General Dentistry, children under the age of 10 can develop 5.6 more cavities on average in a single year when a large amount of processed sugar is included in their diet. The report also attributes this cavity prevalence to sweet school snacks. Whether its candies, flavored milk or chocolates, every sweet snack is packed with processed and refined sugar.
Several scientific studies have proved it time and again that processed sugar is extremely dangerous for oral health. In fact, children are more vulnerable to the detrimental effect of excessive refined sugar consumption.
Naturally Sweet Snacks for School
In order to protect your children from mounting tooth cavities, you can gradually shift them to snacks with natural sweetness. Apples and bite-sized carrots are some good options for replacing artificially sweetened products.
Why Apples?
Apples are a more suitable choice as a school snack for two simple reasons.
- A medium-size apple can be packed in a lunchbox easily. Also, it doesn’t need any refrigeration.
- Apples have enough sweetness to satisfy one’s sugar cravings.
Besides these functional aspects, apples are also good for oral health because of these direct effects.
Apples are a Natural Teeth Scrubber
Apple with its peel is considered a natural teeth scrubber. The texture of an apple’s skin and pulp can scrub the teeth and tongue naturally without needing any extra effort. Children can have their oral cavity scrubbed while chewing an apple off.
Apples Break Down Plaque
Oral plaque is the root cause of many periodontal diseases. Children are more affected by dental plaque since they are not trained to take care of their oral health like adults. In that context, apples become important in a dental diet. The trace acidic content of an apple disintegrates the plaque buildups on the teeth.
In other words, the regular intake of apples can put a stop to plaque buildup. An oral cavity that is free of plaque remains healthy and doesn’t encounter periodontal issues more often.
Apples and Gum Health
Apple is rich in vitamin C. This vitamin plays an integral role in the production of a protein called collagen, which is an essential part of healthy gums. So, apples can physiologically contribute to the improvement of gum health.
As you can see, when kids eat apples regularly, it cuts down their dental visits. On the other hand, adults can also improve their oral health by adding apples to their routine diet.
For more information regarding oral health, give Dr. Apsey of Smile Brightly Dental a call today! We are located in Warren, MI and would love the opportunity to take care of your dental needs. Please feel free to call us at 586-573-7700!