Citrus fruits keep teeth and gums healthy

Citrus fruits—such as oranges and grapefruit—and coconut juices are the best foods to keep your teeth and gums healthy.

They contain the compound prunin laurate (Pru-C12) which has antimicrobial qualities that fight bacterial buildup in the mouth.

The fruits are a safer option than over-the-counter oral hygiene products, which contain disinfectants that can be irritating, say researchers from Osaka Metropolitan University.

In laboratory tests, Pru-C12 stopped the spread of P. gingivalis, the bacteria that causes inflammation in the gums—and citrus fruits and coconut are two of the best sources of prunin laurate, the researchers say.

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