How are Jamun bytes improving your oral health?

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Medically reviewed by  Dr. Vidhi Bhanushali Kabade BDS, TCC

Last updated Dec 5, 2023

Medically reviewed by  Dr. Vidhi Bhanushali Kabade BDS, TCC

Last updated Dec 5, 2023

The very thought of black plums or Jamun pools our mouth with saliva while the sight of plums gives a boost of freshness to our minds. Fruits are an essential part of our nutrition. Fresh fruits are loaded with high nutritional value that provides so much energy to our body yet we tend to ignore them. It is also a refreshing summer fruit with many medicinal properties.

Jamun bytes, which are made from the Jamun fruit (Syzygium cumini), an Indian blackberry, are proven to be advantageous for dental health. Jamun is loaded with polyphenols, antioxidants, and nutrients that help fight off oral bacteria, lessen swelling, and stop gum disease and tooth decay. Natural components in jamun have antibacterial characteristics that prevent dangerous germs from growing in the mouth, enhancing oral hygiene. Jamun’s astringent qualities can also aid in tightening gums and reducing gum bleeding. Including Jamun bytes in your diet might help your teeth and gums stay healthy.

The purple-colored sweet and sour taste of black plum takes us down memory lane to our good old childhood days. As most of us remember eating black jamuns and checking each other’s tongue for its purple color!

This juicy fruit not only has innumerable oral health benefits but is of great significance in traditional holistic treatments like Ayurveda and Unani. In fact, jamun has a special mention in Ramayana and is popularly known as ‘God of Fruits’ since it was believed that Lord Rama survived eating black plums during his 14 years of exile in forest. So one can just imagine the abundance of benefits this fruit has to offer.

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Oral health benefits of Jamuns

Nutritional facts about Black plums (Jamuns)

Not many people know that black jamun has been part of traditional Indian medicine as a component of natural drugs to treat cases of leucorrhea, irregular menstruation and miscarriage. Since then, this versatile fruit has been a popular object of nutritional studies. Black plums have a high nutritive and dietary value and truly form a valuable part of our diet.

Plums are a rich source of many important bioactive compounds such as phenolic acids, anthocyanins, carotenoids, flavanols, organic acids like malic acid, citric acid, fiber, pectin, tannins, aromatic compounds, enzymes, various minerals like potassium, phosphorous, calcium, magnesium and vitamins A, B, C, and K.

Hence, the consumption of black plums benefits our health, immunity and prevents occurrence of diseases. Research has shown the positive and promising health effects of plum due to its anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant, and memory improving properties.

Amazing oral health benefits of Jamuns

Black plum is extremely beneficial for the health of our teeth and gums. Due to its rich source of many bioactive compounds, vitamins, and minerals, it is not only important for general health but very vital for oral health too. Following are some of the important properties of black plum which helps to maintain good oral health.

Astringent properties for bleeding gums

Bleeding gums are one of the commonest dental problems. 7 out of 10 people complained of bleeding gums while brushing their teeth. Although local factors such as plaque deposits, poor oral hygiene are the major causes of bleeding gums most of the time the general health condition remains sidelined. Black plums are a rich source of vitamin K which is important for the synthesis of clotting factors which in turn helps to stop bleeding gums. Thus, plums have an excellent astringent property and is very useful in cases of bleeding gums.

Anti-inflammatory properties for gum diseases

Plums are packed with phenolic compounds mostly anthocyanins which is a natural anti-oxidant. These phenolic compounds help to prevent oxygen from reacting with other chemicals which may cause damage to cells and tissues.

Periodontal diseases (gum diseases) are inflammatory diseases resulting due to interaction between bacterial attack and host inflammatory response. Anti-oxidants can minimize the collagen breakdown caused by periodontal pathogens. Blackberries are rich in Vitamins A, C, folic acid, calcium, selenium, beta-carotene, phytosterols which help to maintain healthy conditions of the tissues in the mouth.

Antioxidants that help fight oral cancer

Black plums have ample of anti-oxidants which help to prevent cell damage generated from free radicals. Free radicals are nothing but unstable molecules which body produces while exercising, coming in contact with air pollution or when body is exposed to sunlight, or when a person smokes a cigarette. These free radicals cause oxidative stress in the body which can increase the risk of developing various cancers.

According to research oral cancer is one of the 10 most frequent cancers in the world. And tobacco consumption is one of the predominant reasons for oral cancer. Anti-oxidants inhibit oral carcinogenesis by reversing premalignant oral lesions. Thus, foods rich in anti-oxidants like black plums not only help in chemoprevention but reduces the risk of developing many diseases associated with oxidative stress.

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Antiscorbutic properties for healthy gums

Plums are a rich source of vitamin C. Vitamin C is an essential water-soluble vitamin. It is important for the production of collagen, improving the immune system and cell repair. Studies have shown that Vitamin C helps in reducing bleeding gums. It also helps in improving the host defence mechanism or simply the immunological response which is very important to maintain periodontal and gingival health.

Vitamin C helps to keep the connective tissue in the gums healthy making your gums strong. Strong gums keep your teeth in place and prevent them from becoming loose and shaky. The anti-oxidant property of vitamin C also known as ascorbic acid helps in wound healing and strengthening the teeth, bone and cartilage.

Important source of fiber for teeth cleansing

Jamuns are an excellent source of fiber. Doctors worldwide always recommend incorporating fiber in the diet since it helps in digestion. The fibers present in the fruit also help flush out the plaque that resides on the tooth surface. Another important reason is that chewing fibrous food increases saliva in our mouth which not only cleanses the oral cavity naturally, but enzymes present in saliva aids in the digestion of food too.

Wound healing for oral injuries

Black plums promote wound healing faster. Since our mouth is more prone to ulcers cuts and injuries, black plums are seen to be effective not only in post tooth extraction socket healing but regeneration of tissues too.

Black plums to improve bone Health

This wonderful fruit is loaded with minerals such as calcium, phosphorous, manganese, and magnesium. Calcium and phosphorous are the major elements of bone that help to increase the bone density of the jaw that holds your teeth. Bone health is very crucial from oral health point of view. Bone health is not only important to maintain our natural dentition, but of paramount importance for various prosthetic treatments like dentures and implants. Research has shown that the consumption of black jamuns helps to keep osteoporosis, macular degeneration, and osteoarthritis at bay.

Jamuns help reducing bad breath

Not just the fruit, but the leaves of this fruit have also shown beneficial results. Traditionally, the leaves of Jamun fruit were dried and powdered to be used as tooth powder. The leaves as well as the fruit have strong anti-bacterial properties which help to eliminate bad breath. Also, the bark of the Jamun tree and powdered seed is used as a decoction for rinsing the mouth. The bark of the Jamun tree has excellent

Purple color teeth after eating jamuns?

This dark-colored fruit can give a temporary purplish hue to the teeth and tongue. But these stains do vanish with a simple swish of water. These are not permanent stains, but temporary stains and nothing to worry about. Simply rinsing your mouth with plain water usually suffices. Also, the enormous oral health benefits far outweigh its staining property.

HIGHLIGHTS

  • Black plums i.e the fruit as well as the leaves have anti-bacterial properties which helps to prevent many gum infections.
  • Jamuns have a high iron content. Iron is extremely important to tackle anemia associated oral symptoms like mouth sores, aphthous ulcers, angular cheilosis etc.
  • Black plum is a small fruit with a unique and a hard taste which by itself is a natural mouth freshener.
  • Regular consumption of black plums reduces gum inflammation and bleeding and maintains the overall health of gums.
  • In Ayurveda, the Jambul fruit has an exceptional importance and the Ayurvedic practioners too recommend black plums for maintaining oral health and preventing bad breath.


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Author Bio: Dr Priyanka Bansode has completed her BDS from the prestigious Nair Hospital & Dental College, Mumbai. She has also completed her Post Graduate Fellowship in Microdentistry from Government Dental College, Mumbai and a Post Graduate Dip. In Forensic Science & Related Laws from Mumbai University. Dr Priyanka has a vast and a diverse experience of 11 years in clinical dentistry and has maintained her private practice of 7 years in Pune. She is keenly involved in community oral health and has been part of various diagnostic dental camps, attended several National & State Dental conferences and is an active member of many social organisations. Dr Priyanka was awarded the ‘Swayam siddha Puraskar’ by the Lion’s Club, Pune in 2018 on the eve of International Women’s Day. She believes in creating an awareness on oral health through her blogs.

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