Carrots are a delicious, nutritious, widely available and make a great snack. However, their most impressive perk is that they’re great for your oral health. Even if you’re wearing braces or Invisalign, you don’t have to let that stop you from enjoying the humble carrot. When shredded or cut into small pieces, they’re safe for anyone to eat. Here are just a few of the teeth-friendly benefits of carrots and why your orthodontist would recommend them.
Natural Tooth Cleaner
The crunchy and semi-fibrous consistency of carrots does more than just give pleasant texture. It can also be highly effective at cleaning your teeth. While you bite into and chew carrots, they scrape away some of the plaque that feeds oral bacteria. However, while carrots can be helpful, they shouldn’t replace a proper brushing and flossing routine, especially if you have braces.
Rich in Vitamin A
Vitamin A is important for more than just healthy eyesight. It’s also essential for building and maintaining other tissues, such as the teeth. Vitamin A is necessary for channeling calcium and other key minerals into the teeth, which helps them stay strong and resist decay. However, the vitamin A is what gives carrots their pigment, so Invisalign aligners should be taken out before consumption to avoid staining.
Source of Important Minerals
As a root vegetable, carrots are rich in a wide array of important minerals that support many aspects of health, particularly that of your teeth. These include boron, phosphorus, copper, calcium and magnesium. Calcium and phosphorus are the main building blocks of teeth. Magnesium and boron help to enhance absorption and use of calcium and phosphorus. Meanwhile, copper is necessary for supporting the health of the gum tissue, which helps hold teeth in place and protect their roots.
If you’d like to learn more about which foods are good for your teeth, or if you’re in need of treatment, please contact Nease and Higginbotham Orthodontics today to schedule your orthodontist appointment.
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