By now we have all heard about “superfoods” that are great for our bodies and overall health, but what about foods that are good for teeth? The American Association of Cosmetic Dentistry recently released a pamphlet about eating for dental health. This pamphlet includes a list of teeth-related superfoods and recipes using them. For instance, did you know that cheese is anticariogenic? Cheese contains lactic acid which helps prevent tooth decay. Here are some other tooth-power edibles:
Broccoli: forms an acid-resistant film on teeth that can help prevent enamel erosion.
Celery: activates saliva production which assists in cleansing food particles from the teeth and dilutes sugars or acids in the mouth. Chewing celery also massages the gums.
Kiwi: pack more Vitamin C than any other fruit. A lack of Vitamin C can break down the collagen network in your gums, making them tender and more susceptible to bacteria and gum disease.
Lemon: a natural “whitener” and assists with pH balance in the body.
Stevia: a natural sweetener that does not have an “acid effect” on your teeth like sugar.
Wasabi: a Japanese version of horseradish, which contains compounds called isothiocyanates to arrest bacteria growth.
Here’s a recipe using some of the ingredients from above!
Broccoli with Wasabi Sour Cream Sauce
Ingredients:
1 bunch broccoli, about 3 stalks,
organic preferred
Directions:
Wash and trim broccoli, peeling the fibrous
material from stems
Slice the stems diagonally into bite-size pieces,
and the flowerets into medium size bites.
Bring several inches of water to boil in a
vegetable steamer, and steam broccoli until
tender crisp, approximately 8 minutes.
Place steamed broccoli into a serving bowl,
serve with Wasabi Sour Cream sauce.
Serving Size:
Makes approximately 6, ½ cup servings
Wasabi Sour Cream Sauce
Ingredients:
¼ cup sour cream
1 – 2 teaspoons wasabi powder
¼ teaspoon sea salt
6 drops stevia
2 Tablespoons water
Directions:
In a small bowl, blend the wasabi powder with
water. Add salt, stevia and sour cream, mixing
well to blend flavors. If desired, add more
wasabi for extra heat.
Serve immediately, refrigerate for several days.
Serving Size:
6 servings, approximately 1 Tablespoon each