Fruits and Vegetables Can Help Prevent Oral Cancer

You hear it all the time: you need to fill your diet with fruits and vegetables. Every system of your body benefits from the nutrients found in produce, from your heart to your digestive system to your skin. But do you know how important eating well is for your oral health? There’s even evidence to indicate that fruits and vegetables can help prevent oral cancer.

Oral cancer is a very serious disease, and about 8,000 Americans die of oral cancers each year. For over five decades, research has been conducted on the relationship between fruit and vegetable consumption and the risk of oral cancer, in more than 40 epidemiologic studies. This research has produced strong evidence that a diet full of vegetables and fruits, especially citrus fruit, can help protect against oral cancer.

This protection is due to a wide range of nutrients found in produce. In addition to vitamins like C and E, fruits and vegetables contain phytonutrients that can help prevent cancers. Berries, for example, are high in ellagic acid, and cruciferous vegetables like broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, and Brussels sprouts have isothiocyanates and glucosinolates. Anti-oxidants like beta-carotene, found in carrots, leafy greens, sweet potatoes, and peppers, also have powerful cancer-fighting properties.

To gain the full benefit of these nutrients, incorporate a minimum of five servings of fruits and vegetables into your diet each day. Other measures you can take to help prevent oral cancer include eating vitamin D-rich foods like eggs, foods with omega-3 fatty acids, like salmon, and foods that contain probiotics, like yogurt and certain cheeses.  Don’t use tobacco, limit your alcohol consumption, and see your dentist regularly. Your dentist will be able to help you keep your mouth healthy, and can also identify early signs of oral cancer so that it can be treated effectively.

If you’re looking for dentist in Hazlet, New Jersey, you can trust Glenwood Premier Dental to meet your needs. At Glenwood Premier Dental, we believe that a healthy, confident smile is an important part of a happy and healthy lifestyle. Our staff of caring professionals is committed to offering a wide range of dental services, exceeding our patients’ expectations, and providing the best possible service. We offer dental exams and teeth cleanings, implant dentistry, Invisalign, laser dentistry, teeth whitening, veneers, and more, using state of the art technology in a comfortable and friendly environment. If you’re looking for dental care in Hazlet, contact us through our website or call 732.264.4477 for more information.