Peanut shell, Peanuts, and Peanut Butter – Are they good or bad for your teeth?

Peanuts are a popular snack at baseball games or any other time. As a matter of fact, peanuts have their own holiday: National Peanut Day on September 13, making it all the more tasty and tempting.

Peanuts provide vitamins, minerals, and proteins to the body. They can be eaten in moderation for good health. 

They also reduce your risk of heart disease when eaten in moderation. But are peanuts (including peanut shell and peanut butter) really good for your teeth? 

This post will talk about the benefits of peanut shell, peanuts, and peanut butter. If you want to learn more about how peanuts affect your mouth, keep reading!

1. Peanut Shells

If you use your teeth to shell these legumes, you may harm your teeth. Peanut shells, in particular, can cause significant damage to your teeth if they are cracked or chipped.

A cracked tooth may be excruciating, and a root canal procedure or a crown may be required. Instead of using your teeth to take the peanut out of its shell, use your fingers.

Also, don’t throw away these empty peanut shells. According to National Peanut Board, empty peanut shells can be used as mulch, cat litter, cushioning for shipping package, and alternatives of salt and charcoal.

2. Peanut

After peanuts are removed from the shell, they are an excellent dental health food when eaten in moderation. They’re mostly made up of fat (60%), protein (25%), fiber (10%), and other components. Also, they do have a fair amount of trace vitamins and minerals.

1) Great Source of Protein

Especially, peanuts are a rich source of protein, which is an essential component in forming healthy teeth and bodies. Protein is required for the formation of connective tissue that supports teeth and cell development and repair. Therefore, peanuts will be perfect for teeth in nutrition-wise.

2) Least Cariogenic

Peanuts are one of the least cariogenic (causing tooth decay) foods. This means that the cavity-causing bacteria cannot break down peanuts to produce acid. As a result, peanuts do not cause tooth decay or erosion.

3) Balancing pH level

Peanuts also help keep your mouth healthy by lowering the acidity of your saliva and reducing the risk of tooth decay.

As we mentioned above, peanuts are protein-rich nutrients, and protein makes the mouth more alkaline. Generally, eating foods with lots of sugar or carbs will lower the pH in your mouth. If the acid in the mouth is produced by bacteria below pH level 5.5, it can cause tooth cavities. That’s why acidic foods and drinks can cause enamel to dissolve.

When you eat or drink meals or beverages high in added sugars, you might want to add peanuts. Peanuts help balance out the pH in your mouth when you eat or drink something sugary. Adding peanuts will keep your teeth from getting cavities. That’s why peanut can help you keep your teeth healthy.

4) Helpful mineral resources

Peanuts are beneficial for dental health since they include the mineral fluorine, which improves tooth enamel. They aid in the prevention of cavities and other dental problems by reducing acid erosion.

3. Peanut Butter

Peanut butters are heart-healthy food with excellent fats. Still, that childhood favorite peanut butter and jelly sandwich may not be the most wonderful thing for your teeth.

Most kinds of peanut butter have a lot of sugar in them. This makes the acid-causing bacteria grow more. So, we recommend that you look for peanut butter without added sugar.

Also, peanut butter is sticky and sweet, and it clings to your children’s teeth in the same way as sweets. Therefore, if your children eat many candies, make sure they drink lots of water and floss afterward. Because it is very important to ensure that any sticky substance is entirely removed from your teeth.

Final Thought

Peanuts are a delicious, nutritious snack that can also be good or bad for your teeth.

If you’re looking to eat peanuts without the risk of harming your mouth, try not to use your teeth to crack peanut shells.

Also, it is a good idea to select peanut butter with no added sugar.

Overall, peanuts are beneficial for dental health. They help keep teeth healthy by balancing out acid erosion in saliva and reducing tooth decay risk.

So, make sure you eat some peanuts and celebrate National Peanut Day! Just remember to brush your teeth afterward!

If you have more questions about your nutrition and oral health, please contact us at Bellevue Prime Dental Group (425) 605-3575 or Lynnwood Prime Dental Group (425) 251-0707.