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Fight Tooth Decay with Beet Juice
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According to the NIH (National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research), 92% of adults between the ages of 20 to 60 have tooth decay.
Tooth decay occurs when bacteria in your mouth creates lactic acids that eat away at the tooth. The root cause is sugar, since bacteria uses sugar as the
substance with which to adhere to the tooth. These bacteria can eventually turn into plaque – a sticky, colourless film of bacteria proliferating on our
teeth.
Tooth decay can be minimized by a healthy diet that involves cutting down on sugary foods. But did you know there’s something you can add to your healthy
eating habits that can actually help prevent tooth decay?
Beet juice!
That’s right, beet juice. It's seems like an unorthodox way to avoid tooth decay (especially considering it stains everything upon contact!) However beets
contain high inorganic nitrate levels that are converted into nitric oxide by the body. This slows down the growth of the acid-producing bacteria found in
plaque. In a study performed by dental students at the University of Applied Sciences in Upper Austria, half of fifty participants were given nitrate-rich
beet juice and the other half nitrate-free juice. Both groups were then tested for the pH levels in their saliva. Results showed that the group that had the
nitrate-rich juice had a noticeably low acid in their saliva as compared to the group that had nitrate-free juice. Therefore, they concluded that if beet
juice is consumed regularly, it contains enough nitrite to effect the production of lactic acid (or tooth-eating) bacteria.
Other health benefits of beet juice:
- Helps with high blood pressure
- Boosts stamina
- Detoxifies your body
- Reduce skin inflammation like acne
- Beneficial for those who are anemic
- Beneficial for those with Type 2 Diabetes
- Helps with digestion
So there it is, who knew? A healthy solution to help prevent tooth decay. Add beet juice in your regular diet to help keep your smile healthy!
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