The following blog post is authored by Dr. Katherine Leyes, DDS, owner of Aspen Dental offices in Appleton and Ashwaubenon, WI.

An apple a day is said to keep the doctor away, but did you know that it may also be beneficial for your oral health?

It is National Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Month, and here’s some good news for fruits and vegetable lovers: these foods are as good for your oral health as they are for your overall health.

The vitamins and antioxidants in fruits and vegetables protect teeth and gums. Chewing fruits and vegetables helps to increase saliva flow and also helps to stimulate gums, which reduces cavity causing bacteria.

Saliva is important because it aids in increasing the level of acidity in the mouth, prevents tooth and gum decay and washes away food particles. Ending a meal by eating raw fruits and vegetables can protect teeth because the high water content of the fruits and vegetables rinses your mouth and helps keep your teeth and gums clean.

Here’s a list of your favorite (or maybe least favorite) fruits and vegetables decoded for their oral health benefits:

• Apples could be called “nature’s toothbrush” because the texture of fresh apples helps to clean your teeth.

• Citrus fruits, including oranges, pears, pineapples, tomatoes and watermelons, have high amounts of vitamin C. While vitamin C is essential to your body for a number of reasons, it helps to maintain healthy gums. A vitamin C deficiency may lead to unhealthy and bleeding gums, which may lead to unstable teeth. Amanda, is there any concern about the level of acid in citrus fruits that we should acknowledge in hurting your teeth?

• Root vegetables like carrots and celery are a good source of beta carotene, which is used by your body to create vitamin A. Vitamin A is essential to building strong teeth. Additionally, the water content in these root veggies helps to clean teeth and gums.

• Leafy greens and cruciferous vegetables – such as cabbage, collard greens, lettuce, kale, asparagus and spinach – are filled with many nutrients, including vitamins A and C, beta carotene, phosphorous and calcium. Vitamin A, like with root veggies, helps build strong teeth, while phosphorus is stored in teeth and bones.

While fresh fruits and vegetables may help improve your oral health, consuming them is not a substitute to regular brushing and flossing. You should also visit your dentist regularly, at least twice a year.

National Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Month, sponsored by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), is celebrated each June. The USDA recommends that an individual consumes between two and two and a half cups of fresh fruits and vegetables daily, helping to improve overall health and prevent serious diseases. For more information on fruits and vegetables and their health benefits visit the USDA’s Fruit and Vegetables Resources site.

© 2013, Amanda H.. All rights reserved.