Yes, strawberries make the list of snacks that are healthy for your body as well as your mouth.
That's right, strawberries are good for your oral health. Now let's make something clear, though, if you eat your strawberries after they've been dipped in chocolate you pretty much destroy the benefits. Eat them all by themselves.
What Is So Special About Strawberries?
Strawberries are a great little fruit. And strawberries benefit your oral health in several ways.
While most of the benefits of fruits and vegetables are their vitamin content or their ability to stimulate saliva production, strawberries have a different benefit. They contain a substance called malic acid. Malic acid is also found in apples.
The malic acid found in strawberries and apples serves a useful purpose in keeping your teeth healthy.
The acid helps to remove the plaque that has accumulated on your teeth. When it removes the plaque, and consequently reduces the amount of plaque that can decay your teeth, it also makes your teeth look whiter.
The accumulated plaque gives your teeth a discolored look because they are coated with the plaque. When you eat strawberries, they clean the teeth and remove some of the plaque. Do don't use strawberries in place of a toothbrush.
What Else Can Strawberries Do?
Strawberries have a couple of other benefits that can boost your oral health. Strawberries contain Vitamin C. Vitamin C can help prevent periodontal disease and it can also help prevent inflammation in your gums. If your gums aren't healthy your teeth won't be either.
One other benefit to strawberries is ellagitannins. This substance is an antioxidant. When you eat strawberries, it releases the antioxidants, which helps to remove decay-causing plaque and reduces inflammation in your mouth.
Please contact our office if you have any questions about strawberries effects on your oral health.