Summer Foods to Make You Smile

Summer is a pretty sweet time to be a tooth. Not only is there plenty of delicious seasonal fare on the table, much of it will help keep your entire body, including your mouth, in tip-top condition. The teeth, gums and tissues that line the mouth and tongue and the bone that supports your teeth all rely on an appropriate mix of vitamins and minerals to maintain good health. In several studies, nutrients in fruits and vegetables  such as dietary fiber, potassium, and antioxidants  have been associated with reduced risk for cardiovascular disease and many cancers including oral cancer. If you see these options on the picnic table this summer, go ahead and have seconds.

Apples
“An apple a day keeps food particles away” doesn’t quite have the same ring to it as that other saying, but it’s true. The crunchiness in apples and other firm fruits and vegetables stimulates saliva flow, which helps wash away lingering food pieces and buffers harmful acids. Munch away!

Strawberries and Melons
These fruits have high water content, which dilutes the effects of the sugars they contain and stimulates the flow of saliva, helping your oral health in the same way apples do. You can also snack on a couple cups of cantaloupe to up your intake of potassium, a nutrient that helps promote good bone density.

Spinach
Popeye was onto something. The Vitamin K found in spinach helps your body absorb the calcium in other foods more efficiently. A spinach salad with low-fat cheese and some strawberries is a summer salad combo that can’t be beat.

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Megan Vrooman
Megan Vrooman is a program officer for the Delta Dental of Arizona Foundation. She handles their community grants program, fluoride varnish program and community relations. She studied nonprofit management and leadership at Arizona State University and is a Certified Nonprofit Professional (CNP) through the Nonprofit Leadership Alliance. Although Megan grew up in Phoenix, she is Wisconsin native. Megan likes spending her free time volunteering, dancing, baking and hiking with her husband, Andrew, and two boxers, Roxy and Max. [Editor's Note: Megan is no longer a current DDAZF employee.]