As explained in the text "Oral hygiene and toothpaste chemistry”, from March 11th to 15th, 2013 the Annual School Health Mobilization Week, with assessments of health-related aspects of around 14 million students in the public network.
An important assessment is that of oral health, as many students do not know how to perform a thorough cleaning of their teeth. This cleaning involves first flossing between all the teeth in your mouth and then brushing with the toothpaste. For children, the ideal are brushes with a small head, with straight and soft bristles or extra-soft so as not to hurt their gums.
Since the birth of the first tooth, parents can already start taking their children to the dentist to monitor and prevent infectious diseases such as caries.
But what about when the person is not at home? What can help keep your teeth clean?
There are some foods, which are called detergent food, which help to maintain oral health, as they help to remove fat, waste and bacteria generated in food. Chewing these foods helps remove plaque and prevent cavities, gingivitis and bad breath from forming.
In addition, they increase saliva production, decreasing mouth acidity. In the aforementioned text, it is explained that acids attack hydroxyapatite, the main component of tooth enamel, and form caries. Making the medium more basic is a way to counter that.
The main detergent foods are: apple, pear, kiwi, watermelon, papaya, carrot, chard, cucumber, celery, broccoli, cauliflower and bubble gum without added sugar.
On the other hand, foods rich in carbohydrates and sugar, such as candies, sweets, chocolate, soft drinks, coffee and sweetened juices, ferment in the mouth, reducing the pH of the saliva, leaving it acidic and ideal for the proliferation of bacteria.
In addition, detergent foods also help with another problem that will be addressed in Annual School Health Mobilization Week, which is obesity. It is evident that a balanced diet is needed and the intake of these foods at the right time, however, when we compare the detergent foods with the others mentioned, we see that detergents are richer in fiber, have less sugar and contain fewer calories, also helping to maintain healthy eating habits.
THE good chew It is important for the health of the teeth and the body in general, as it helps to prevent problems such as gastritis and ulcers. In addition, if food is well digested, substances will more easily enter our bloodstream, nourishing us.
It is evident that these foods do not replace brushing, because after a certain time, the fruit begins to decompose and make the environment acidic. Therefore, as soon as possible, do the correct oral hygiene.
By Jennifer Fogaça
Graduated in Chemistry
Source: Brazil School - https://brasilescola.uol.com.br/saude-na-escola/alimentos-detergentes-que-auxiliam-na-saude-bucal.htm
