Food for your Teeth: Omega-3, Casein, Wasabi, Cocoa, Coffee & Tea
Sunday, March 27th, 2011
Dr. Shin attended a continuing education course today that discussed some food that may be good for your teeth. Here are just a few foods we didn’t expect.
Omega-3
There has been a lot of talk the last few years about Omega-3 fatty acids and it seems like more and more foods are being fortified. Now, there is some evidence that Omega-3 fatty acids help reduce the risk of gum disease and have been claimed to prevent tooth decay and toothaches.
Casein
They say milk does a body good – well, it may actually do teeth good as well. Casein, a protein found in milk and cheese has been shown to prevent decay-causing bacteria from attaching to teeth. In addition, it is rich in bio-available phosphates and calcium, which support the re-mineralization of tooth surfaces. Another study has shown that casein solution is as effective as 500ppm fluoride in aiding the prevention of cavities. (source: Kalbe Farma)
Wasabi
If an apple a day keeps the doctor away, will a California roll a day keep the dentist at bay? Probably not. But there is a claim that certain compounds found in wasabi, the piquant green horseradish that accompanies sushi and sashimi, can kill the bacteria that cause tooth decay. (read the rest of the article at the NY Times)
Cocoa
Teeth begin to rot when the common bacteria Streptococcus mutans secretes a sticky molecule called glucan, which helps them anchor themselves to teeth and form a layer of plaque. In that plaque, the bacteria convert sucrose molecules into acid which attacks the enamel (mechanism of teeth decay). A Japanese research team found that an extract from the husk of cocoa beans blocked production of glucan. Who knows, husk extracts may be a component of your favorite Hershey sometime in the future. (source: www.independent.co.uk)
Coffee/tea
Like the some of the other foods, coffee and tea prevent tooth decay primarily through their anti-microbial action. For coffee, the compounds that are most active in terms of dental health are trigonelline, caffeine and chlorogenic acid. For tea, the active chemicals are polyphenols. While cocoa and coffee are mostly effective against the adhesion of bacteria on the surface of teeth, tea in addition actually inhibits the growth of several strains of Streptococcus. The polyphenols in tea also reduce the formation of plaque, the production of acidic compounds and the synthesis of glucan from sucrose.
These are a few foods that may help improve your dental health. Speak to you health care provider to see how incorporation of these food into your diet will affect your overall health.