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Posted on 2/20/2020 by Barbara Ketchum |
 It's the time of the year when pumpkin and pumpkin-flavored stuff is everywhere. You know what we mean. You can buy pumpkin spice coffee, cookies, candles- we even found a pumpkin spice cereal. All of this pumpkin spiced stuff got us thinking- does pumpkin benefit your teeth? If you're not sure, we have some information for you. The Truth About PumpkinA lot of people think pumpkin is a vegetable, but it is a fruit. Pumpkin is usually prepared and served as a fruit or a veggie dish. People use pumpkin in soups, and as a dessert, such a pumpkin pie. Pumpkin has a lot of vitamins. First, pumpkin is loaded with zinc. Zinc is useful for healing wounds and repairing tissue- which is great when you have canker sores or you are recovering from surgery.Pumpkin also has vitamin A, which improves saliva flow. Saliva is one of the main reasons you don't have cavities, because saliva washes away bacteria. Pumpkin also has vitamin C, which improves blood flow in your mouth and also helps boost your immune system. Best of all, pumpkin has magnesium to help prevent cavities and build strong enamel for your teeth. What About Pumpkin Seeds?Not only is pumpkin good for your teeth, but pumpkin seeds are good for your mouth as well. They contain iron, which helps the blood flow in your mouth and also helps prevent anemia. Plus, pumpkin seeds have a lot of fiber, which means that you are helping to brush away the bacteria in your mouth- almost like a natural toothbrush.The one pumpkin-related item that is not healthy and good for you is pumpkin spiced bakery items. Pumpkin spiced items usually have a lot of sugar in them, which encourages bacterial growth. Pumpkin spice items also have cloves. Cloves are good with pumpkin and good for you as well, because the spice has anti-inflammatory properties. Do you have questions about pumpkin? We have answers. Give us a call today. |
