Fall is officially here, bringing a bountiful feast of fabulous food that is especially good for your teeth. Take acorn and butternut squash for example; both contain healthy amounts of vitamins A, B and C. Dr. Scott Norton (practicing Endodontist in Louisville, KY) recommends consuming an adequate amount of vitamins A, B and C to help maintain good oral health.
Vitamin A is not only important for the formation of strong bones and teeth, it also helps aid in the healing of inflamed gingiva (gums). Vitamin B is essential for strong teeth and gums, as well. In fact, a vitamin B deficiency can cause gingival recession, toothaches and overall oral sensitivity. Loose teeth and gingival bleeding can be an indication of low vitamin C levels. Maintaining adequate levels of vitamin C is easy to do with citrus fruits around all of the time. However, Dr. Scott Norton (practicing Endodontist in Louisville, KY) recommends keeping the consumption of citrus fruits to a minimum due to the high acid content. According to Dr. Norton, this is where delicious vegetables like squash come in.
There are so many ways to enjoy the fall favorite, making it simple and yummy to get the vitamins that you need from squash. For example, Dr. Norton’s family enjoys a warm bowl of butternut squash soup on a chilly day. Also, Dr. Norton’s new favorite is an arugula salad with roasted butternut squash from Food Network’s Ina Garten. Here is the link to the recipe: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/ina-garten/roasted-butternut-squash-salad-with-warm-cider-vinaigrette-recipe.html
Whether you like to substitute pasta with spaghetti squash, make a soup or salad from butternut squash or simply roast a beautiful acorn squash, they all have nutritional value important for good oral health. In addition, Dr. Norton also recommends sourcing locally for your food and loves the many sources that Louisville, KY has to offer.