Fresh Herbs: Eating for a Beautiful Smile

Depending on who you are, or where you’re from rather, you either think of fresh herbs as an inedible plate-decorator (think curly parsley at a buffet-style steak house), a flavor-boosting garnish for dishes (basil torn over pasta), or the main event (the Middle Eastern parsley dish, tabouleh, for example).

But did you ever think of herbs as good for your teeth?

Leafy, fresh-tasting herbs like parsley and mint contain monoterpenes, which travel from your bloodstream to your lungs.   That’s why chewing mint or parsley after a meal will help you maintain fresh-smelling breath.

More than just breath-fresheners, fresh herbs are rich in nutrients, as indicated by their deep green color.  Parsley is an excellent source of vitamins A, C, and K, as well as iron and folate. Basil is rich in vitamins K and A, iron, and calcium.  Many herbs contain flavonoids (antioxidants).  (For how these vitamins and minerals keep your teeth healthy, check out our previous post.)

So pile on the fresh herbs!  And don’t limit yourself to using herbs as a garnish.  There are plenty of delicious, nutritious ways to make herbs the main event.  Your teeth will thank you.

World's Hoppiest 5K Road Race. Register Now!

The World's Hoppiest 5K Road Race is coming up!  Join us on October 8 at 9:00 PM in Milton, Georgia for a cool run followed by drinks and live music.

Crabapple is helping to sponsor this race, and proceeds go to benefit Canine Assistants.

Download the race form here, or register online here.

Vegetables: Eating for a Beautiful Smile

All vegetables are good for you, and along with whole grains, should be the foundation of your diet.  Just a few of the health benefits include glowing skin, strong hair and nails, a trim figure, and reduced risk of preventable diseases.

Let’s look at how they affect your smile.

Raw Vegetables

Raw, crunchy veggies like celery and carrots massage the gums and clean between teeth.  The chewing they require also produces saliva, which helps to neutralize bacteria and prevent cavities.  Vegetables are naturally low in sugar as well, which is obviously better for your teeth.

Leafy Greens

Leafy green vegetables such as cabbage, chard, collard greens, endive, lettuce, kale, mustard greens, asparagus, spinach and watercress provide you with a ton of vitamins and minerals needed to maintain and improve oral health. Nutrients found in these dark green foods include vitamin A, vitamin C, beta carotene, phosphorus, calcium and magnesium. Spinach and other leafy greens are rich in magnesium. Broccoli, cauliflower, brussels sprouts and kale contain large amounts of vitamin C and phosphorus. Phosphorus is stored in the teeth and bones, and is instrumental in helping your body balance and absorb calcium and magnesium.

Any Vegetables

From vitamin A (in pumpkin, carrots, sweet potato, broccoli) to vitamin C (spinach and swiss chard), to calcium (broccoli and bok choy), vegetables contain the nutrients your teeth need for healthy enamel and gums, without the stuff that does nothing your teeth, like fat and sugars.

If your diet includes plenty of vegetables, you’re doing a good thing for your mouth and entire body.  If you aren’t a fan of vegetables, try to find some you like, or try sneaking them into dishes where you don’t notice them so much.  When you start to see the benefits, you’ll be surprised at how you develop a taste for what your body really needs.

As always, if you live in or around the Atlanta, Alpharetta, or Roswell areas, and would like to schedule an appointment with Dr. Sarah Roberts, call 678-319-0123 or email us today.

Beans: Eating for a Beautiful Smile

How do beans affect your oral health?  Well, specific vitamins and minerals are vital to healthy teeth and gums.  Those include calcium, iron, and vitamins A, B, C, and D.  Beans are chock-full of every single one of these vitamins and minerals.

Let’s discuss how each of these vitamins contribute to a beautiful smile.

Calcium

If you do not get enough calcium, you are at risk for gum disease and cavities.  That’s because your teeth and bones are made mostly of calcium.  Calcium combined with phosphorous makes up calcium phosphate – another name for the dense, hard material that is your teeth and bones.  So you can see that calcium directly affects the strength and appearance of your teeth and bones.  It is a myth that calcium must come from dairy.  There are plenty of healthier ways to get plenty of calcium. Beans are an excellent source.

Iron

Iron deficiencies aren’t uncommon. Oral signs of an iron deficiency include the formation of sores inside your mouth and in some cases, an inflamed tongue.  Beans are rich in iron.

Vitamin A

Beans are rich in Vitamin A, which has a lot to do with the health of your skin, teeth, and gums.  The antioxidants in Vitamin A help destroy free radicals that cause decay.  Vitamin A = healthier skin, teeth, and gums.

B Vitamins

Symptoms of not enough B vitamins (B3, B2, and B12 are found in beans) include bad breath and canker sores.

Vitamin C

Vitamin C is an antioxidant that helps your body absorb iron (see above) and promotes healthy teeth and gums. A Vitamin C deficiency can cause bleeding gums and loose teeth, among other things.

Vitamin D

We’ve all heard that we get Vitamin D from being in the sun, and that’s true, but beans also contain Vitamin D.  Vitamin D helps your body absorb calcium (see above).

On top of all of these vitamins and minerals – which directly affect the appearance and health of your teeth – beans are high in protein, fiber, and complex carbohydrates, and low in fat and contain no cholesterol.  Making beans a regular part of your diet will improve the health and appearance of your entire body.  And a healthy, attractive body gives you one more reason to smile confidently!

As always, if you live in or around the Atlanta, Alpharetta, or Roswell areas, and would like to schedule an appointment with Dr. Sarah Roberts, call 678-319-0123 or email us today.

Series: Eating for a Beautiful Smile

Starting this week, I’ll be featuring posts on specific foods that are crucial if you want to have the healthiest, whitest smile possible.  If you make these foods part of your diet, in addition to the highest quality dental care, you will have a smile that is both healthy and head-turning.

I’ll explain why these types of foods specifically lead to healthy teeth.  Consequently, you’ll find that the same foods that are good for your teeth, are good for your entire body.  Funny how that works out!

First up for tomorrow: Beans.

As always, if you live in or around the Atlanta, Alpharetta, or Roswell areas, and would like to schedule an appointment with Dr. Sarah Roberts, call 678-319-0123 or email us today.

Smile! It's Friday!

Happy Friday! The weather is perfect and everyone at Crabapple Dental
is excited for the coming Fall!  Enjoy your weekends everyone.

Indian Toothpaste Laced With Nicotine?

Recent studies have found many brands of toothpaste sold in India are being laced with cancer-causing nicotine.  Those brands include Colgate Herbal, Himalaya, Colgate Herbal, Neem Paste, Neem Tulsi, RA Thermoseal, Sensofoarm, Stoline.

You can find the full article here.

I hope this finding is further researched, and action taken.  Nicotine does not belong in toothpaste, obviously.