The Banana Bread Recipe That Heals Cavities

If you’re prone to getting cavities and tooth infections, this hearty loaf might be the perfect solution for you. Contrary to popular belief, staying away from sweets, and regular brushing and flossing aren’t the only ways to avoid cavities. In fact, despite doing these things, your teeth can still develop that less-than-pleasant hole in your tooth.

Accoring to WebMd, sugar has less to do with cavities than we think:

‘The truth is, acid produced by bacteria in your mouth is the cause of cavities,’ says Kimberly A. Harms, DDS, an American Dental Association spokeswoman.

Any carb you eat can start that process. That includes sugar as well as rice, potatoes, bread, fruits, and vegetables.

Keeping those pearly whites healthy

Not only is this Earl Grey Banana Bread delicious, it’s actually good for your oral health. Earl Grey contains catechin, a type of antioxidant that fights infections. One study found that black tea, such as Earl Grey is able to reduce the number of cavities even while consuming a high-sugar diet that is often associated with tooth decay.

During the study, laboratory animals were given an extract of black tea and fed a high-sugar diet. This group of animals had fewer cavities than those that had been fed a regular diet.

Another study found that, “among 6,000 English children, those who drank tea regularly had the least cavities and best dental health”.

A loaf of goodness

This banana bread is super fluffy and moist, and the hint of Earl Grey is such a lovely addition. It’s made with buckwheat flour, making it gluten-free. I think this is my new favorite banana bread!

Some people like to add maple syrup or coconut sugar, but in this recipe, the bananas really shine. In addition, while many banana breads contain up to an entire cup of refined sugar, this recipe uses medjool dates to add natural sweetness. This loaf is the perfect level of sweetness.

The ingredients are pretty much what you see in this photo. But for more detailed instructions, check out the recipe below.

This recipe is shared with permission from our friends at joyoushealth.com.

Earl Grey Banana Bread

Ingredients:

1 cup light buckwheat flour*
1 tsp baking soda
½ tsp baking powder

1 tsp vanilla powder or extract
2 eggs, whisked
1/4 cup melted coconut oil

2 ripe bananas, mashed
1/3 cup organic earl grey tea, strongly steeped in hot water**
1/3 cup banana chips, crumbled or finely chopped

4 medjool dates, pitted and finely chopped
1/3 cup pecans or walnuts, chopped

Instructions:

Preheat oven to 350F degrees. Grease a loaf pan.

In a large bowl, combine the flour, baking soda, baking powder and vanilla powder. If using vanilla extract, combine it with the wet ingredients.
In a separate bowl, combine the eggs, oil, banana and tea. Combine the wet and dry ingredients until fully combined. Fold in banana chips, dates and pecans.
Pour batter into loaf pan.

Bake for 30 minutes. I have a convection oven, which cooks things a little faster, but you’ll know it’s done when you stick a fork or knife into the center and it comes out clean. If you do not have a convection oven then you may need to add about 10 minutes.

Notes:

*Dark buckwheat flour works fine too.
**Be sure to use really good quality tea for this recipe. I used the Honest Leaf’s organic Earl Grey tea.

I recommend you enjoy this banana bread with some good fat like almond butter, coconut butter or this goat butter. The good fat will turn this banana bread into more of a power snack because good fats really help to balance your blood sugar. It was my first time trying goat butter and I absolutely loved it. Surprisingly, it wasn’t at all goat-y tasting – not that I would have minded because I love all things goat milk.