DENTAL HEALTH

Try Nature’s Toothbrush: An apple a day keeps the dentist away.

"The mildly acidic nature and astringent quality of apples, combined with their rough, fiber-rich flesh, makes them the ideal food for cleansing and brightening teeth," explains Jeff Golub-Evans, DDS, a cosmetic dentist at New York University.

Crunchy foods, including apples, celery, and carrots, act like little toothbrushes when you chew them, and they actually help scrub away stubborn stains over time. Their cleansing effect on your teeth may be noticeable - if ever so slightly - especially if you're a coffee drinker.

If you start eating an apple a day as a between-meal snack and don't get the chance to brush your teeth afterward, be sure to chase it with a glass of water to rinse away the sugar, acid, and any plaque it may have removed from your enamel. (Source: Prevention Magazine)