Strawberries look, smell and taste good, they are good for you as well. You know you can’t resist picking one up and popping it into your mouth – neither could the Romans back in the day. They used the wild variety of this popular and healthy treat known as a strawberry, for a large variety of medicinal purposes, such as alleviating inflammation, fever, kidney stones, gout, whitening teeth and taming bad breath … and much more.
Strawberries for dental hygiene
The Romans used strawberries to combat bad breath – so how does that really work, and is it effective? Well, the ancient Romans discovered that the strawberry with its seeded exterior, and sweet and sensational taste, can remove the tartar from your mouth, thus causing a fresh and sweet breath.
You should know that a strawberry back then in ancient times, and one today in modern times, will work on the same principle, i.e. all you need to do it take a strawberry and rub it on your teeth and tongue. Those Romans were smart cookies, because, in using the strawberry for something more than just a sweet treat, they discovered that the juice of the strawberry can lighten dark spots on the teeth.
Strawberries the wonder drug
We’ll discuss that magical teeth-brightening potion below, but, the Romans discovered strawberries were a virtual wonder drug that were rich in vitamins, and could alleviate inflammation, reduce fevers, and treat blood disease, as well as liver and kidney disease.
In ancient times, the strawberry was revered as a medical miracle as it helped digestive woes. The pulpy fruit part of the strawberry was used to relieve diarrhea and stomachaches, and the roots and leaves of the strawberry plant were used as a treatment for gout. For sun lovers who were burnt to a crisp, Romans tried to relieve the burn and redness of that sunburn by rubbing whole strawberries right onto the skin.
Today we find that the ancient Romans did not only excel with their “strawberry medicine theories”, but the collection of medical knowledge about this fruit, as well as its superior health benefits, lives on because modern research confirms that certain components found in strawberries have been shown to have great health benefits. Thus, the lowly strawberry has always served as a delicious option for a sweet tooth as well as for other health benefits. They are considered one of the “super foods” because they help your body thwart cancer, heart disease, and other major chronic illnesses. Strawberries enjoy a second-place rating as to ORAC value (Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity) by the USDA Human Nutrition Center. Blueberries have taken first place, but both fruits are revered for their high antioxidant disease-fighting capabilities. Strawberries, for example, have an ORAC value of 1,540 per 100 grams of fresh strawberries and scientists believe that an intake of 2,000 to 5,000 units can increase the body’s cancer fighting ability. Did you know that it is the dark color in blueberries and strawberries which are the powerful antioxidants that provide multiple health benefits, and a substance found in both of these berries, called resveratrol, is refuted to slow the natural aging process?
Best way to stay healthy
Today, people find themselves straying back to simple home-care concepts that work and make them feel and look good, without prescriptions or pain. Such is the case for keeping your teeth white without resorting to painstaking at-home whitening kits or constant visits to the dental office to have whitening treatments done.
Natural tooth care gets easier (and tastier) when using strawberries for oral hygiene to keep your teeth white and bright. Strawberries contain the tooth-whitening enzyme of malic acid, which can do wonders for your smile without the harmful chemicals and high cost of formal dental work. Thus, the secret to white teeth is found by pulverizing the strawberries and creating a mixture that is applied to your teeth. Simply crush or puree one strawberry, add ½ teaspoon of baking soda, and mix well. Spread the mixture onto your teeth by using a soft toothbrush. Let the mixture stay on your teeth for about five minutes, then ensure that all of this magic mixture is off your teeth and be sure to use dental floss or dental tape to remove any remnants of it from between your teeth before brushing with regular toothpaste.
Although this is a recommended method of brightening your smile, you should only use this procedure once per week, as overuse of the concoction, primarily due to the baking soda, will lead to the premature breakdown of your tooth’s enamel.
I hope you’ve learned a lot about strawberries today, especially how beneficial this beautiful berry can be to your personal dental hygiene. But, if you don’t like strawberries, or are allergic to them, remember that traditional dental hygiene also works well, and a simple consult with a family dentist, will also keep your breath clean and fresh and your teeth sparking white.
