At some point, your parents probably expressed the benefits of apples by sharing the old adage, “An apple a day keeps the doctor away.” But how much truth is there in that statement?
According to the Academy of General Dentistry, apples can definitely be part of a healthy diet that keeps the dentist away, although you should never neglect regular dental visits no matter how healthy your diet is. Regular dental checkups are an essential oral health practice to ensure you’re regularly monitored for tooth decay, oral health abnormalities, and all the little things you’d never spot in a mirror with the naked eye.
The Evidence
The Academy of General Dentistry looked at a study that examined dietary habits of preschool children over a 15-month period, before and after they started school. According to the study, once children started school, the rate of cavity-free kids dropped by about 4 percent. What was to blame? Why were these kids experiencing more instances of tooth decay?
The simple answer was a diet higher in sugar. Kids who started school were exposed to more food and drinks that contained a higher volume of sugar, which is where the benefits of an apple a day comes into play.
Deliciously firm and crunchy, apples are a food with high water content, which can minimize the effects of the sugar they contain by diluting it. They also help your mouth produce saliva, which mitigates the effects of acid and inhibits tooth decay. In short, apples can be a much better tangy or sweet snack than candy for both you and your kids. Plus, there are a ton of different kinds of apples to satisfy a range of different types of sweet teeth.
On their website, Colgate even named apples as one of their "seven best foods for your teeth." They cite the high fiber and water content of apples for a variety of health reasons and state that the "fibrous texture of the fruit also stimulates your gums." It isn't same as brushing your teeth, they go on to say, but eating an apple can help keep teeth cleaner in between brushing.
We'd say from the glowing recommendations from these prominent organizations, maybe apples can keep the doctor away. Reach for one instead of fruity candy next time you have the craving!
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