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I Used to Think Honey Would Rot My Teeth.
But guess what…
I absolutely love honey, but I never eat it too often because, for some reason, I thought it would be bad for my teeth.
Usually I would enjoy it in hot water with lemon to soothe cold symptoms, or on a crumpet or toast.
The sweetness is what threw me. My childhood indoctrination that sweet foods can cause tooth decay led me to categorise honey alongside other sweet foods.
But guess what?
Honey isn’t as harmful for your teeth as I thought. In fact, it can be good.
I don’t know why I didn’t research this sooner. Honey’s antibacterial and antioxidant properties, long reported, should have made its potential dental health benefits obvious.
Does this imply that any kind of honey is good for your teeth?
If you want to reap the benefits, it’s best to choose raw honey, as commercial honeys undergo processing that can remove these benefits.
Manuka honey is considered the best honey, with UMF gradings ranging from +5 to UMF 20+. The higher the rating, the more antibacterial activity the Manuka honey has.
I buy local honey from a market stall. It is more expensive than those found on supermarket shelves, but at least I know it is…
