Traditionally, fruit has been considered a healthy food, but some people worry that too much of it could be bad for your teeth. The full story isn't so simple: while some fruit-consuming habits could encourage cavities, there are ways to enjoy a fruity snack without putting your teeth at risk. Read these four facts to clear up your confusion around fruit and dental health.
1. Whole Fruit Isn't a Problem
Whole fruit contains both sugar and acid, but research suggests that it doesn't raise your risk of cavities. In fact, people who regularly snack on fresh fruit develop fewer cavities than people who rarely eat fruit. Go ahead and enjoy all the whole fruit you like. Not only will it not harm your teeth, but the fibres found in the fruit could even rub stains away from the surfaces of your teeth, according to some dentists.
2. Fruit Juice Can Be Harmful to Teeth
Although whole fruit doesn't pose any risk to dental health, it's wise to cut your consumption of fruit juice. When fruit is juiced, most of the fibre is removed and the sugar is freed from the fruit cells. Some fruit juice also has much higher concentrations of acid than whole fruit, which can soften enamel and allow cavity-causing bacteria to attack the tooth. Although fruit juice contains vitamins, it's better to get these nutrients from whole fruits or vegetables. If you do drink fruit juice, dilute it with water or have only a small glass of juice with a meal.
3. Dried Fruit isn't the Best Choice
Dried fruit is delicious, but it's not the best choice for your teeth. The first problem is that the sugar in dried fruit is very concentrated, which can feed bacteria in the mouth. The other issue with dried fruit is that it gets very sticky when you chew it, which means it can stick to your molars. Denture users and people who wear braces can have particular problems with dried fruit, as it can become stuck in these dental appliances. Choose fresh apples and pears over raisins and dried apricots.
4. Brushing Doesn't Always Help
You might think that you can drink all the fruit juice you want, as long as you brush your teeth as soon as you have finished your drink. Unfortunately, brushing your teeth immediately after consuming something acidic can do more harm than good. When you consume acidic beverages like juice, the enamel on your teeth softens, which means that brushing your teeth can wear the enamel away and leave your teeth vulnerable to cavities. Instead of brushing, drink water to wash away the acid and then wait 30 minutes before you brush.
