Last Updated on February 22, 2022 by Neelam Singh
Quick Take
A social media post claims that bacteria that causes tooth decay can be killed by eating cashew nuts which are actually seeds. We fact checked and found the claim to be mostly False.
The Claim
A social media post claims that bacteria that causes tooth decay, acne, tuberculosis, pneumonia and leprosy can be killed by eating cashew nuts which are actually seeds.
Fact Check
What is tooth decay?
According to the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, tooth decay (dental caries) is damage to a tooth that can happen when decay-causing bacteria in your mouth make acids that attack the tooth’s surface, or enamel. This can lead to a small hole in a tooth, called a cavity. If tooth decay is not treated, it can cause pain, infection, and even tooth loss.
Can cashew nuts kill the bacteria that causes tooth decay?
Not necessarily. Streptococcus mutans bacteria is considered to be the main cause of dental decay. Even though it is not the only microorganism that causes tooth decay.
All the nuts are known to increase the saliva stimulation which neutralises the bacteria but there is not enough research which states that cashew nuts kill the streptococcus mutans bacteria.
Also, even though research states that cashew nut shells showed effective antibacterial and antibiofilm activity against the streptococcus bacteria, the study is proven to have effects because of the cashew nut shell oil and not the cashew nuts.
Dr. Sandeep Sharma, Dentist, says, “Once a tooth has a physical cavity (opening or hole) inside of it, there is no feasible way or specific diet/food to help the enamel grow back on your own. Instead, the cavity will gradually worsen, due to the bacterial infection inside of the tooth structure. Therefore, any abrasive agent such as cashews can not reverse the decay. You need to seek treatment to stop the infection or decay from spreading it further.”
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