Does an Apple a Day Really Keep the Dentist Away?
Apples often appear on lists of foods that are safe to snack on from a dental perspective. While it's fair to say that eating an apple is better for your teeth than chomping down on a fist full of lollies, apples are not always as good for your teeth as you might think. They have their advantages but also some disadvantages that you should watch out for.
Why Apples Are Good For Your Teeth
Generally, if you need to snack on something sweet, it's better to eat something healthy, like an apple, than to eat candy or sugary snacks. According to dentists-and-dental-care/dental-treatment/articles/dental-decay">CHOICE, most of the sugar in fruit is fructose, which is better for your teeth than sucrose, or regular sugar. Oral bacteria can turn sucrose into all kinds of nasty stuff but it finds fructose a harder nut to crack.
Plus, crunching down on apples can also go some way to helping keep your teeth clean and looking brighter. According to Listerine Australia, the fibres in apples that you have to chew can help clean your teeth. The water content in an apple is also useful in your mouth as it helps deal with the fruit's sugar content and may also increase your saliva flow. Saliva helps swish bacteria off your teeth and out of your mouth.
Why Apples Are Bad For Your Teeth
Although apples don't put regular sugar in your mouth, they still put fructose in there. Bacteria may find it harder to work on this fruit sugar but it may still cause some damage. Plus, your mouth also has to deal with the acidity of apples.
According to NINEMSN Food, the acid and sugar content of apples may lead to dental erosion, damaging the enamel and underlying layer of dentine on your teeth. For example, in a study of 1,000 people, NineMSN Food reported that people who ate apples were 3.7 times more likely to have damage to their dentine layer than people who didn't eat the fruit.
Tips on Eating Apples
You may be able to minimise any negative effects that eating apples may have on your teeth. For example, NINEMSN Food recommends the following tips:
- Eat an apple quickly to limit the times your teeth are exposed to its acids and sugars while you're eating.
- Eat or drink something that neutralises acids, such as milk or a piece of cheese, when you're eating the apple or straight after you've finished it.
- Rinse your mouth out with water once you've eaten an apple to help wash the acids off your teeth.
You may also find it useful to stick to eating apples straight after a meal rather than as a between-meals snack. This reduces the number of times a day that your teeth have to deal with sugars and acid content.
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