Dentist says autumn superfood could give your smile a boost

Pumpkins are an autumn essential, whether you're sprucing up for Halloween or whipping up hearty soups and roasts as temperatures plummet. Now one dentist has revealed this seasonal favourite could work wonders for your oral health too.

Dr Raj Juneja, principal dentist at Face Teeth Smile Dental Clinics explained: "As a dentist, I often remind patients that good oral health depends on more than just brushing and flossing; it's also influenced by the nutrients we consume. Pumpkin is rich in zinc, iron, magnesium, vitamin C, and vitamin A.

"All of which play key roles in maintaining a healthy mouth. Vitamin A helps support tooth enamel and the mucous membranes inside the mouth, while vitamin C strengthens gum tissue and helps prevent bleeding or inflammation.

"Just one cup of pumpkin provides your entire daily requirement of vitamin A and about 20 percent of your vitamin C intake. This makes it a simple, delicious way to give your smile a seasonal boost."

The dental expert also suggested grabbing a handful of roasted pumpkin seeds for a nutritious snack whilst out and about. These seeds pack plenty of magnesium, which can strengthen tooth enamel and help your pearly whites fight off decay.

A single serving of pumpkin counts towards one of your five-a-day portions of fruit and vegetables, as advised by the NHS. This equates to an 80-gram helping or approximately three heaped tablespoons of cooked and chopped pumpkin.

Whilst pumpkin might be a seasonal favourite with some surprising health benefits, a number of other autumn staples aren't quite as beneficial for your teeth, according to the expert.

Particularly, the sheer volume of sweets and sugar doing the rounds in October. The dental professionals specifically cautioned people against consuming sticky or chewy confectionery that adheres to the teeth and gets trapped in crevices, making it challenging to dislodge and enabling bacteria to gorge on the remaining sugars, heightening your risk of dental decay.

Acidic sweets can also inflict some harm due to the mixture of sugar and acid, which can wear away the enamel surrounding your teeth. Whilst abandoning the sugary indulgences altogether will probably benefit your teeth and general wellbeing the most, the dentist provided a middle ground. Rather than sticky or acidic sweets, choose some dissolving alternatives instead.

He explained: "If you want to enjoy something sweet, a small piece of dark chocolate is a better option. It contains less sugar and melts away quickly, making it less likely to linger on your teeth.

"Alternatively, sugar-free gum can be a helpful choice. Chewing gum stimulates saliva flow, which naturally washes away sugars and acids, strengthens enamel, and helps maintain healthy gums."