This week we planted a real live apple tree behind our office! We will be watering, pruning and caring for this tree over the years. We care about this tree as much as we care about our Red Apple patients and are excited to watch our little apple tree grow!
You may not know this but the apple is, in fact, a very important fruit. We know apples are an essential part of a healthy diet but did you know they also help promote good dental hygiene? Read on for ways that apples help keep your mouth happy!
Apples – Nature’s Toothbrush
Apples are crisp, crunchy fruits and as such they help clean plaque from teeth and freshen breath. Biting and chewing an apple stimulates the production of saliva in your mouth, reducing tooth decay by lowering the levels of bacteria. They have a high water content, which dilutes the effects of the sugars they contain.
Apples Curb Your Sugar Cravings
A great way to help prevent cavities in your kids is by limiting their sugar intake. But you don’t have to completely deprive them of sweet treats! Apples make an excellent snack because their natural sweetness satisfies sugar cravings and their high fiber content fills you up longer, leading to less snacking. Less snacking means less sugar on your teeth and that makes your mouth happy!
9 Fun Facts About Apples
- More than 2,500 varieties of apples are grown in the United States, but only the crabapple is native to North America.
- Apples contain no fat, sodium or cholesterol and are a good source of fiber.
- Apple trees take four to five years to produce their first fruit.
- Apples ripen six to 10 times faster at room temperature than if they are refrigerated.
- Apple varieties range in size from a little larger than a cherry to as large as a grapefruit. The largest apple ever picked weighed 3 pounds.
- Apples harvested from an average tree can fill 20 boxes that weigh 42 pounds each.
- Apples are a member of the rose family.
- A peck of apples weighs 10.5 pounds. A bushel of apples weighs about 42 pounds.
- It takes about 36 apples to create one gallon of apple cider.
Source: http://farmflavor.com/10-fun-facts-about-apples/
Come and see our new apple tree for yourself! Schedule your visit with Dr. Payam today.