Being Smart About Your Snacks Leads To A Better Smile

Do you think that habitual snacking leads to problems for your teeth? Truth is, it depends on a lot of things. When you eat, it's your mouth's duty to clean things up and try to restore its own natural balance. Three meals per day is a natural and healthy habit, but consuming food almost non-stop forces your mouth to work twice as much to maintain a clean and balanced state. This is especially harmful when you choose the wrong foods.

Your Choices of Foods Make a Big Difference on Your Mouth

While some foods are often irresistible, they can also be unfriendly to your teeth. These include foods that contain high amounts of starch, sugar, and acid such as fruit juice and energy drinks. What does it really take to be smart about snacks?

Snacking smart doesn't necessarily force you to take a break on all those irresistible treats. Besides, what else do you do inside a theater during an amazing movie? Smart snacking, however, does suggest a few things as enumerated below:

1. Be keener about your foods. Start keeping an eye on what you're eating and when you're eating them.

2. Opt for teeth-friendly snacks. You'll miss the sweets, but you'll soon realize that your taste will quickly and easily adjust to those smart snacks. Here are a few suggestions as to what should be considered a "smart snack":

a) Crunchy and fibrous fruits and veggies scrub your teeth as well as raise your saliva flow. b) Foods rich in protein have phosphorus and minerals that aid in building stronger teeth. c) Try cheese. It's sugar- and starch-free and a dairy product that contains calcium. 

Why an Apple a Day Keeps the Dentist Away

An apple acts like a mini toothbrush, so every time you crave for something to munch on, opt for an apple instead of sugar-filled crackers and cookies.

Don't Avoid Treats Forever!

Avoiding tasty treats is a big hassle, but if you snack smart, a starchy or sugary snack every now and then can't be that damaging. Eat them at the right time as well to minimize their damaging effects on your teeth. You can try eating those sugary treats along with your meal. This tends to dilute the sugar's teeth-decaying effects and wash them down more easily since saliva flow is often greater during meals. And of course, never forget to brush and rinse after.

For more information on taking care of your teeth, contact a dentist like Brit E. Bowers, DDS.


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