Table of Contents

• How Produce Helps You Support a Healthy Smile
• Tooth-Friendly Produce to Add to Your Shopping Basket
• Spring
• Summer
• Fall 
• Winter
• How to Enjoy Farmers Market Treats While Protecting Your Teeth
• Protect Your Smile with Tooth-Friendly Produce and Our Dental Team

There are so many fun things to do around Arden, NC, and one of them is spending time at the Western North Carolina Farmers Market. Unlike many other places, residents near Asheville get to enjoy a farmers market year-round, regardless of weather. While you might be looking for crafts from local artists or plants to add to your garden, the farmers market has more to offer. 

The WNC Farmers Market is home to a plethora of booths manned by local vendors who are growing a variety of tooth-friendly produce all year long. Although you might love picking up baked goods and homemade treats, it is important that you grab some of this tooth-friendly produce as well before heading home. But what is considered tooth-friendly produce? 

In this blog, we’ll explore why tooth-friendly produce is so important, what produce to look for each season, and how to enjoy the farmers market while keeping your smile safe. 

How Produce Helps You Support a Healthy Smile

Your diet plays an important role in keeping your smile healthy, and fresh produce is an easy place to start. Fruits and vegetables contain nutrients that support your teeth and gums while offering a smarter alternative to sticky, sugary snacks. Adding colorful produce to your meals can help you get nutrients such as vitamin C, calcium, and other vitamins and minerals.

Some fruits and vegetables also have textures that benefit your mouth. Crunchy options like carrots, celery, and apples can increase saliva flow as you chew. Saliva helps naturally wash away food particles and neutralize acids that can affect your enamel. Produce with high water content, including cucumbers and watermelon, can also help keep your mouth hydrated.

The next time you visit the WNC Farmers Market, look beyond your favorite treats and explore the fresh options available from local growers. Making produce a regular part of your diet is one simple way to support your smile between dental visits while supporting local vendors, farmers, and more. 

Tooth-Friendly Produce to Add to Your Shopping Basket

With a place like the WNC Farmers Market in your neighborhood, you can enjoy fresh, local produce all year long. But, you also want to ensure you’re choosing the most tooth-friendly produce possible if this is a major concern for you. With this seasonal guide, you can make the most well-informed decision for your smile throughout the year. 

Spring

As chilly temperatures roll out of town and flowers begin to bloom, you may be itching for delicious, fresh produce. Some of the best tooth-friendly produce to incorporate into your routine during the spring include:

• Leafy greens like spinach and kale, rich in calcium
• Strawberries, blackberries, and raspberries, high in vitamin C
• Carrots and celery, which aid in saliva production and scrub away plaque
• Asparagus, high in folic acid and vitamin C, protecting your gums
• Radishes, which are high in vitamin C and sulfur compounds that fight harmful bacteria

Summer

Summer is the perfect time to make yourself a delicious salad, made up of the freshest local produce. But what produce should you look for when stopping by the farmers market if you’re prioritizing tooth health? Some of the best summer produce includes: 

• Cucumbers, which are high in water and rinse away harmful bacteria
• Celery, which actively scrubs away at the teeth and helps dislodge food particles
• Bell peppers, high in vitamin C, that support your gum health
• Carrots, which stimulates saliva flow and gently massage your gums
• Watermelon, which helps rinse away food debris while keeping you hydrated

Fall 

As the warm summer months come to an end and cooler weather arrives, you may still find yourself craving fresh, delicious produce. The best tooth-friendly produce to throw in your basket during your next fall shopping trip includes: 

• Apples, with a naturally fibrous texture that scrubs away food particles
• Pumpkin and squash, rich in vitamin A and beta-carotene that supports strong enamel
• Carrots and root vegetables, which stimulate your gums and trigger saliva production
• Cranberries (unsweetened), with natural compounds that disrupt plaque formation
• Fresh pumpkin seeds, which are a good source of zinc and magnesium

Winter

While the winter season isn’t known for its warm temperatures or temperate weather conditions, it still provides us with ample tooth-friendly produce. Some of the best winter produce to look for during your next trip to the farmers market includes: 

• Broccoli, high in fiber, vitamins, and minerals that support strong enamel
• Oranges and mandarins, which provide a boost in vitamin C and strengthen your gums
• Pears, high in water content and good at stimulating saliva production
• Kiwis, with vitamin C, helping you reduce gum inflammation and periodontal disease
• Almonds, walnuts, and cashews, rich in phosphorus that keeps your teeth strong

How to Enjoy Farmers Market Treats While Protecting Your Teeth

While the farmers market is the perfect place to pick up some tooth-friendly produce, this isn’t going to be the only thing you pick up. You may also find yourself looking for fresh baked goods, local wines, honey, jam, and other delicious treats to enjoy with your loved ones. Although these might not always be the most tooth friendly, you can still enjoy them while protecting your teeth. 

We would never tell you to completely cut out your favorite WNC Farmers Market treats. Not only are you supporting local farmers and vendors, but you’re also providing yourself a much-deserved treat. However, there are a few things you want to ensure you’re doing to protect your teeth, including: 

• Drink plenty of water after eating your treats to wash away lingering food particles, sugar, acids, and bacteria. 
• Choose smart sweets, like dark chocolate, that melts and washes off of your teeth more quickly than other sugars. 
• Eat your treats at the end of a meal when you already have extra saliva flow that can wash away lingering sugars. 
• Avoid grazing on your snacks and treats all day long, as this can constantly expose your teeth to acids that break down enamel. 
• Brush your teeth twice a day and floss at least once a day to remove the toughest bacteria, plaque, and food particles. 

By balancing your diet with tooth-friendly produce, local sweets, and plenty of water, you can trust that you’re on the right path toward protecting your smile from uncomfortable oral health complications. 

Protect Your Smile with Tooth-Friendly Produce and Our Dental Team

The WNC Farmers Market gives you the perfect opportunity to support local farmers and vendors, while finding your favorite in-season, tooth-friendly produce. But, that is only half the battle. You should also partner with a reliable dental team to keep your smile safe and healthy. If you’re looking for a reliable dental team in Arden, NC, turn to our team at Arden Family Dental for expert support. We’re committed to helping you promptly address oral health concerns, keep your teeth healthy throughout the year, and achieve the smile you’ve always dreamed of. No matter why you’re turning to our team, trust that we’re the right team for you.

If you would like to schedule an appointment with our team in Arden, don’t hesitate to contact us today by submitting an online contact form or call us at 828-900-9488.