Vegans face enormous challenges every day. From the things they wear to the food they eat, it seems as though more than half of the world’s population is not educated enough about their beliefs to ask sensible questions. Aside from that, people and other health enthusiasts threaten vegans about their way of living. People think that it’s not good for the health and it is detrimental to their oral health as well. There is truth to this to an extent, but of course, there’s always an alternative, and we make ways creatively.
You don’t have to give up being vegan because of the fear of losing your perfect smile. There are many ways you can keep your teeth healthy, and among them are things that an average vegan is already doing on a daily basis.
To know how to keep healthy teeth on a vegan diet, here are a few items you can practice.
1. Eat raw and crunchy veggies and fruits.
Did you know that apples work like a toothbrush? Eating a crunchy, tasty apple after every meal is almost equal to gargling mouth wash. It is because Apples contain xylitol.
Xylitol is a natural alcohol that you can find in many fruits and vegetables. It is also used as a sugar substitute and is one key ingredient in many gums, mints and some candies.
Xylitol helps maintain the pH level in your mouth, and it prevents bacteria from sticking to it, especially to the teeth. Eating an apple after lunch will help remove what’s stuck on your teeth’s surface. Indeed, an apple a day keeps the dentist away.
2. Drink Green Tea
Drinking tea is not just for you to keep your figure slim thick. Tea also helps prevent plaque information and the growth of oral bacteria.
Green tea is amazing because it contains polyphenols, which can reduce bacteria (and their byproducts) in the mouth. Also, tea has a high amount of fluoride which is what toothpaste brands claim to strengthen teeth.
Aside from keeping your teeth immaculate, tea also keeps your gums healthy, and it can decrease inflammation and slow down the progress of oral cancer. It freshens your breath, keeps you away from cavities, and loves your gums. Tea is more than the aesthetics. With tea, you can lose fat and have pearly-white teeth.
3. Tangerine, it’s all about L-arginine
It’s not all about making things rhyme because tangerine has L-arginine (about 80 grams in one cup of juice). L-arginine is first known as a great vitamin for heart health, and you can find it in almost any type of food.
Vegans can have grains, nuts, soybeans and seeds as sources of this nutrient wonder. One cup of roasted soybeans has more than 4 grams of the said vitamin. Scientists recently found out its capacity to stop the growth of oral bacteria (which they tested in a petri dish). L-arginine is a perfect way to love your gums and teeth while enjoying your food.
More than keeping your gums and teeth at their best, L-arginine also keeps your heart lively. It improves blood flow in the heart’s arteries by clearing them, relieves chest pain and helps treat other deadly diseases like coronary artery disease. It is a natural dietary supplement that helps in healing wounds. It also supports many other body organs and processes such as the kidneys, immune system, hormone functions and arteries. So, worry no more! All you need is L-arginine and tangerine.
4. Know-it-all Pycnogenol
(Sorry for the poor rhyming, hopefully it will make you remember it quickly!) Pycnogenol comes from pine bark and is known for containing powerful antioxidants, and you can get this from grape seed, witch hazel bark (ew!), and peanut skin. So, pycnogenol is great for your teeth because it promotes overall oral health and wellness. It can seal capillaries, and it also decreases the inflammation in the tongue and reduces plaque build up. Say goodbye to bleeding gums and yellowish teeth!
5. Ahoy, Ahoy, Here Comes Soy!
As a vegan, you must be consuming soy on a daily basis. Although some people think that having soy is bad, there are still many reasons why you should keep having it in your diet. And one of them is its capacity to reduce Periodontal diseases. Periodontal diseases are infections around the teeth structures, including gums, the alveolar bone, and the periodontal ligament.
The disease starts in gingivitis and when not treated the gums pull away, and they get infected. Having soy in your diet is not just about getting the heavenly meat-like taste. It’s going to save your teeth from trouble in the future.
6. Brush it Lush
Needless to say, clean your teeth regularly. Don’t brush too much, though, because overly brushing your teeth can cause enamel deterioration and can even lead to overly sensitive teeth. So brushing should be done first thing in the morning and last thing in the evening. Electronic brushes are also one great way to have just the right amount of force and depth. Don’t believe in advertising so much, because where brushes can’t reach, your dentists can clean. You can annually have one or two sessions of teeth cleaning so you can keep the smile shining.
Dentists are not always expensive, there are even cheap dental plans in Long Island, because New Yorkers also need a discount. Remember, going out without brushing is like going out naked (unless you like to go naked in the streets).
Takeaway
A lot of people are going to discourage you with your newfound way of life. Half the world doesn’t understand the vegan philosophy, but that shouldn’t discourage you from doing it. Sure, others can find a lot of reasons why you need to stop, but you know why, what, and for whom you are doing all this. So, long live vegan! (Smiling with sparkling teeth)
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Author Bio: Pooria Shahin is a blogger by heart and a dentist by profession. He is practicing his profession in Brooklyn, New York and is a known figure in cosmetic dentistry. He received numerous awards and one of them is the Outstanding Practitioner Award. He is an active advocate about better dental health and shares about his experiences through blogging.
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