The term ‘detergent food’ kindles a lot of curiosity, right? These are a group of food items that help in dental cleaning. Detergent foods are mostly crunchy food items. When you eat these foods, the rubbing action of the food against your teeth enables the removal of plaque and the tiny leftovers between gums. After chewing, small pieces of such foods act like abrasive materials similar to the ones present in toothpaste. Some of them also contain enzymes and vitamins that are helpful for your oral hygiene. Consumption of such food selections acts as a supplement to your regular teeth cleaning routine.
Who should add these foods to their diet, and how?
Busy workers
If you are at work and do not have access to oral cleansing products before a meeting, you can munch any of these to boost your confidence.
Young ones
It is recommended to munch on these foods after finishing your meal during office or school lunch breaks. For this purpose, detergent foods can be packed along with regular meals in the lunch box. Making kids clean their teeth after every meal is quite a task. If your young ones struggle to brush their teeth properly, these healthy detergent foods are great post-meal snacks.
On-the-go
When you are out of your home or have just had your meal, and you can not clean your teeth with a toothbrush or floss, you can rely on detergent foods to clean and keep your breath fresh.
Some detergent foods that you can add to your diet:
Apple
Eating apple helps in dental cleaning by the resultant scrubbing action from chewing. The acid content of the fruit makes the conditions inside the mouth unfavorable for the growth of foul breath-causing bacteria.
Pear
The crunchiness of pears improves your dental hygiene by removing stuck pieces of food and plaque to some extent, like a brush.
Cucumber
The high moisture content in cucumber stimulates saliva secretion and helps in washing away the leftover food in the mouth. Munching on some cucumber slices also provides abrasive action for extra dental cleaning.
Plain popcorn
Eating popcorn without salt, butter, or added flavors strengthens your routine teeth cleaning. Chewed popcorn pieces are firm and act like bristles to facilitate the removal of plaque while you are busy eating.
Lettuce and Celery
Green leafy vegetables like lettuce and celery are great detergent foods. The high fiber and moisture content in them boosts the removal of plaque and food debris while eating.
Detergent foods enhance the effectiveness of your routine oral care and help in ensuring that your teeth remain clean between brushing. But consumption of these foods after meals can not be considered as a full-fledged dental care regime.
Having a proper oral care routine is crucial as it helps you get rid of plaque and bad breath. Which ultimately reduces the chances of gum diseases and tooth loss.
Importance of regular dental checkups
Along with maintaining an oral care regime at home, visiting a dentist for regular dental checkups and cleanings is a must. Dentists can help you by cleaning stains from your teeth that can not be removed by regular brushing. Early detection of dental problems is a notable benefit of regular dental checkups. Assessment of dental hygiene helps in analyzing the wellness of the whole body. You will be astonished to know that gum diseases can be associated with severe cardiovascular conditions. These cleanings prevent the incidence of gum diseases and cavities. Plus, at the end of each appointment, you walk out with a sparkling smile on your face.
Eating detergent foods as post-meal snacks facilitates good oral hygiene by leaving your mouth cleaner after every meal. Adding a few of these tasty food items to your diet can improve the effects of your regular dental care regime instead of replacing it.
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Simrit has been working at Torbram Dental since 2001. She started her career with Assisting/Treatment co-ordinating and then moved on to becoming the Hygiene Co Ordinator in 2005. In 2012 she took on a new role as the Marketing Director. Though she loved being the Marketing Director, in 2015 she became the Office Manager of Torbram Dental. She completed her Level 1 Dental Assisting program with Career Canada in 1996 and then went on to complete her Level II Dental Assisting Diploma with Southwestern Medix in 1999. That is when she received NDAEB Certification. Simrit has been and still is an active member of the Ontario Dental Assistants Association since 2000. She enjoys hiking and traveling with her husband and two kids and loves to explore new restaurants, especially high-tea venues.
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Jessica, one of our receptionists, is one of the smiling faces you see when you arrive at the office. She graduated with honours from Medix College with a diploma as a Level 2 Dental Assistant. When she is not happily helping our patients, Jessica enjoys spending quality time with her friends and family, going to church on Sunday mornings, gardening and going on hikes.
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Naudia has been working at Torbram Dental for many years and is a valued member of our administrative team: as a dental receptionist and in our marketing team . She graduated from Everest College with honours level 1 and 2, with a diploma in Dental Assisting. Naudia is always there for our patients, making sure that they receive the care and attention they deserve. When not at the office, she enjoys spending time with family and friends, cooking and indulging in civil court TV shows.
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Ramandeep has been a part of Torbram Dental for the past 10 years as certified dental assistant. She obtained her level 1 certification from Everest college in Brampton in 2013, and then her level 2 certification in 2014 from Medix college. Her career path through the clinic has been recognized by staff at all levels who admire her work ethic and dedication to million dollar smiles. In her spare time, Ramandeep enjoys cooking and gardening, and spending time with her husband and 2 kids.
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Sana is a valued member of our dental hygiene team. In 2008 she completed her education at George Brown in Dental Assisting and in 2016 she earned her diploma in Dental Hygiene from the Canadian Academy of Dental Health and Sciences. Sana has been working in dentistry since 2008 and enjoys taking care of our patients and helping them with their oral health. She is married and is busy with her 2 young children. In her spare time, Sana enjoys going out with the family, trying out new places to eat and is looking forward to travelling with them in the future.
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Sanaria has been working at Torbram Dental for many years as a valued member of our Dental Assisting Team. She completed her level 2 dental assisting certification and previously obtained a degree in Education and worked as a quality control officer in the pharmaceutical industry. When not at work Sanaria loves to bake and cook. She also loves story time and enjoying the outdoors with her children. She always sees the positive side of life, believes that nothing is impossible and that if you set a goal and work at it, that you will make your dreams come true.
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Carrie has been working at Torbram Dental since 2001. She graduated from George Brown College in 1998 with a Dental Assistant Diploma and continued to further her education by completing a Dental Hygiene Diploma in 2001 at Durham College. Carrie is a highly trained and experienced Registered Dental Hygienist who continues to learn and grow by updating her knowledge to provide her clients with the best Oral Health Care techniques and information. Carrie is passionate about Dentistry and is known for her gentle and compassionate manner. She feels strongly about building lasting relationships and trust with her clients to help them understand that good Oral Health leads to good Overall Health. Carrie enjoys travelling, dabbling in decorating and a good Netflix series in her time off. Carrie resides in Halton Hills with her husband and two children.
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Daniela's interest in Dentistry began in Gr.6 when she wrote a speech entitled "My Life as a Toothbrush".
A Registered Dental Hygienist with 22 years of clinical experience, Daniela still has a great passion for her career. The most rewarding aspect for her is building lasting relationships with her patients, and seeing them through to a healthier smile.
Her thorough yet gentle touch will ensure a comfortable visit every time.
Daniela is a total Foodie and loves to cook and enjoys all types of cuisines. She loves Florida, Cruises, organizing things, and most of all spending time with family and friends.
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Stephanie Enjoys getting to know all new patients at Torbram Dental and catching up with long standing Patients. Stephanie enjoys spending quality time with her family. One of her favorite things to do with her daughter is teach and play the piano. Stephanie likes going on walks with her husband and enjoys spending as much time with him as he is an Active Member of the Canadian Army. On Sundays, Stephanie enjoys going to Church and looks forward to Sunday Dinner with her entire family. Stephanie's Favorite thing to do to start her day right is head to her local Starbucks and Grab her favorite drink, an iced black tea with light lemonade on warm days and a blonde vanilla latte on those cold winter days.
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As a dedicated Dental Hygienist at Torbram Dental, Aalisha brings recent knowledge and experience to ensure the best oral health for our patients. She holds a Diploma in Dental Hygiene from the Toronto College of Dental Hygiene and Auxiliaries and has further enriched her education with a Bachelor of Science from the University of Waterloo. Beyond her professional qualifications, Aalisha has a zest for life that extends beyond the dental chair. She cherishes quality time with family and friends, thrives on outdoor adventures, and has a passion for hiking and water-based activities, especially during the sunny summer days. She is an avid traveler, exploring tropical paradises and historic destinations while immersing herself in diverse cultures and indulging in delicious culinary experiences."
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Supreet was born and raised in Punjab, India and came to Canada in 2016. She graduated from Sheridan College as an Environmental Lab Technician but later decided to change her career to dentistry. She completed her Level I and II Intra-Oral Dental Assisting course from George Brown College and graduated in 2023. In July 2023, Supreet joined the team at Torbram Dental where she enjoys working. In her free time, she loves to read books.
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