Eating a wide variety of vegetables has numerous health benefits. They’re packed with essential nutrients, vitamins, and fibers that our bodies need to stay healthy. However, some vegetables can be especially prone to getting stuck between your teeth, requiring you to floss after eating. What vegetables are the primary culprits? Here are five vegetables that you’ll definitely want to floss after enjoying.
Spinach
Spinach is a versatile leafy green that can be added to salads, smoothies, and cooked dishes. It’s rich in vitamins A and K, iron, and other minerals [1]. But anyone who has eaten spinach knows that it can easily get stuck between your teeth. Spinach tends to get wedged into the smallest spaces, making it one of the top vegetables that you’ll want to floss after eating.
Corn on the Cob
Nothing says summer quite like fresh corn on the cob. It’s sweet, delicious, and easy to cook. However, those juicy kernels are notorious for lodging themselves between your teeth, especially if you’re eating straight from the cob. To maintain optimal oral hygiene, it’s best to floss after eating this vegetable to remove any debris.
Celery
Celery is both a healthy snack option and a staple in numerous dishes and salads. The crunchiness of celery comes from its high water content and a fibrous structure that can be difficult for your teeth to break down entirely. The long, stringy fibers of celery often have an uncanny ability to wrap around teeth, particularly molars. Flossing after consuming celery can help prevent the fibers from serving as a trap for bacteria in your mouth.
Asparagus
Asparagus is another fiber-rich vegetable with numerous health benefits, such as high vitamin K content and a variety of essential minerals [2]. Its rich, unique taste makes it a favorite in many dishes. Asparagus is known for its stringy texture, which can easily become stuck between teeth. This makes flossing after enjoying this vegetable crucial to avoid discomfort or potential tooth issues.
Broccoli
Broccoli is a powerhouse of nutrients, offering significant amounts of vitamin C and vitamin K. While it’s excellent for your health, its florets can easily get caught between your teeth. The fibrous and sometimes crunchy crowns of broccoli can break into small pieces that cling to your teeth and gums. Flossing can help remove these pieces, leaving your mouth feeling clean and fresh after eating this healthy vegetable.
Flossing Tips
Flossing your teeth every day is important, but it’s crucial to know how to floss correctly [3]. Follow these flossing tips to remove any food debris, including vegetables, from between your teeth:
- Use about 18 inches of dental floss, winding most of it around your middle fingers
- Gently slide the floss between your teeth, forming a ‘C’ shape around each tooth
- Use a clean section of floss for each tooth to effectively remove trapped food particles
Schedule Your Next Dental Checkup
Have concerns about your flossing techniques, or need to get a dental cleaning to ensure your smile is squeaky clean? Don’t hesitate to contact your dentist. Regular checkups can ensure that you’re doing your best to maintain your oral health. So, savor those healthy and delicious vegetables, but remember to floss after to impress your dentist during your next appointment!
Sources:
- https://www.heart.org/en/news/2024/03/25/among-leafy-green-powerhouses-spinach-packs-a-wallop
- https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10814860/
- https://www.mouthhealthy.org/all-topics-a-z/flossing
