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Have you heard of detergent foods?

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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