Pumpkins are Good for Your Teeth!

Welcome to pumpkin season! This time of year you will find everything pumpkin infused, from pumpkin pies and cakes to pumpkin ales and lattes. Although these seasonal favorites tend to be loaded with sugars and tend to be on the unhealthy side, the pumpkin itself is quite good for you. There is no shortage of vitamins and other nutrients, which we all need to keep our bodies healthy and strong. South Tampa Smiles would like to take this opportunity to honor this wonderful and delicious food and share the many oral health benefits.

Pumpkin provides more than 100% of our daily vitamin A requirements. It also has a healthy source of vitamins C, E, B and various other nutrients such as magnesium, manganese, potassium, copper and zinc. Don’t forget about the seeds, which have lots of fiber, iron, protein and calcium. Each vitamin and mineral found in pumpkins play an important role in the health of your teeth and gums.

How Pumpkins are good for your teeth (Nutritional Roles & Daily Requirements):

• Vitamin A promotes healing. One cup of pumpkin provides all the vitamin A you need in a single day.
• B vitamins can reduce tongue inflammation (Glossitis). Ongoing deficiencies in the vitamin B families can cause the loss of the tiny fingerlike projections on the tongue (papillae).
• Vitamin C boosts your immune system, which helps fight infections and inflammation.
• Magnesium works with calcium to harden enamel, resist tooth decay, and is essential in bone production. One ounce of pumpkin seeds give you more than one-third of your daily magnesium needs.
• Zinc keeps keep your teeth and bones strong. 1 oz of roasted pumpkin seeds gives you about a third of your daily zinc needs.

Everyone can see that pumpkins are good for your teeth, but we are speaking of the actual pumpkin and not the flavorings and spices. Keep snacks in moderation and include healthy portions of pumpkin into your diet. There are many ways to incorporated pumpkin into your diet such as smoothies, soups and roasted pumpkin seeds for a snack. How the pumpkins are prepared, cooked and served define whether or not you get the full nutritional benefits that pumpkins have to offer.

Keep following South Tampa Smiles to learn more about the nutritional facts of the foods you eat and their impact on your oral health. Call us today if it is time for your six month checkup or if you are experiencing any dental concerns at (813) 289 – 0560.

Further Reading: Thanksgiving Foods that are Good for Your Teeth