At Kevin Postol, DDS we love to help our patients make good choices when it comes to their dental health. With Thanksgiving fast approaching, it is definitely a time of year filled with lots of food, treats, and abundance. We like to educate our patients on food choices that can benefit their dental hygiene. With fall in full swing, one of the ingredients many people don’t realize is good for their teeth is pumpkin. This is great news because pumpkin is a staple ingredient of November and Thanksgiving. Who doesn’t love pumpkin pie or a pumpkin bread confection?
Pumpkin is Good for You!
Pumpkin is yummy, and it is good for your health in many ways. This is because it is a nutrient-dense food. This vegetable is full of vitamins and minerals and is also low in calories.
The USDA National Nutrient Database found that just 1/2 cup of cooked pumpkin has 1.8g of protein, hardly any fat, and only 40 calories. Along with this, it also has nearly 3g of fiber which is great because fiber helps you feel full longer, which can help with diet and eating less.
Pumpkin also has other nutritional benefits. When it comes to vitamins and minerals, pumpkin can provide you with more than 100% of the daily dose needed for Vitamin E, riboflavin, potassium, and manganese. Pumpkin also contains magnesium, zinc, and more.
How Does Pumpkin Help Your Oral Health?
The zinc in pumpkin helps keep bones strong. Zinc deficiency can cause weakened bones and anemia. An ounce of roasted pumpkin seeds gives you a third of your daily needed zinc.
Pumpkin also contains magnesium which is great for tooth enamel. Magnesium works like calcium to build a hard enamel that resists tooth decay. Magnesium is a key element in bone production, too.
Vitamin A is also found in pumpkin. This vitamin promotes healing which can help if you have damaged gums.
Keep in mind that pumpkin flavored treats and spices don’t have these benefits. So, you need to ensure you have actual pumpkin ingredients and that you are getting to the source.
