Healthy Snacking For Your Teeth
If you are interested in the longevity and care of your teeth and gums
, what you eat may have more of an impact that you can imagine. Eating healthy snacks can not only be helpful in not degenerating your teeth, but can even work to protect your teeth and make them stronger for the future.
This article will suggest healthy snacks which will improve the overall health of your mouth. Working these into your diet can help you to be healthier in a number of different ways.
The best snacks for a healthy mouth are low in starches and sugar. That is because sugars and starches mingle with bacteria in your mouth to create an acidic environment.
Over time, the acid in these foods eats away at the teeth, leading to tooth decay and cavities. Some foods, such as soft drinks, are also acidic, something many baby boomers learned in science class by dropping a tooth in a jar full of soda and watching it dissolve over the next week or so.
This is clearly an obvious indication as to how destructive soda and candy is to our mouth. If we had any idea of the long term effects that these acidic sugars and carbs might have on our oral health, we might not be so quick to put them in our mouths, or at least we might brush our teeth immediately after!
In addition to being acidic, some brands with sugar contain as much as eleven teaspoons of sugar per serving, according to the American Dental Association. If you want to reduce your sugar intake, you are better off switching to the diet versions, which typically contain less sugar.
But even most diet drinks contain phosphoric acid and citric acid, which can also erode your teeth over time. You are probably wondering, what snacks are good for my teeth?
Raw vegetables are a good choice. Cut up some carrot sticks, or pick up a bag of baby carrots.
They're tasty, and the crunch is satisfying as well. Other smart snack choices might include plain yogurt, cheese (in small amounts), raw almonds, grapes, apples, oranges, bananas, and walnuts.
Cheese is particularly good for your teeth -- although it can contain a lot of fat, so don't overdo it. Besides protecting your teeth against bacteria that cause decay, cheese contains proteins like casein that act as a buffer against decay-promoting acids formed when you eat sugary goods.
You might be wondering about other healthy snacks such as pretzels and raisins-keep in mind that some healthy snack foods may not be as healthy for your teeth. Interestingly, certain snacks -- like crackers and pretzels -- may be even worse for your teeth than caramels or hard candies.
If you are wondering why, it is because starchy foods are more likely leave bits of food that stick to the teeth and encourage the growth of plaque (a thin bacterial film that contributes to tooth decay). Dried raisins present the same problem: besides containing fruit sugar, or fructose, dried fruit is sticky and clings to your teeth, creating a favorable environment for bacteria.
The good news is that if you brush your teeth or even rinse your mouth after eating crackers, raisins, and other sticky snacks, you can reap the benefits of a nutritious snack and cut the risk of cavities. Also, don't forget the essential benefits of daily flossing!
You may think that your toothbrush is reaching all the little spots in your teeth, however one time flossing is enough to show you that this is clearly not true! Little bits of food and candy get stuck in places that your brush will never reach.
You might wonder if it matters how often you snack during the day. It does if what you eat is high in sugar or starch.
Every time you snack on a starchy or sugary food, your teeth are bombarded with acid for about twenty minutes after your last swallow, according to the American Dental Association. In order to minimize the damage from an unhealthy snack, you may have to make some small changes.
Everybody needs to sample a lemon tart or indulge in a piece of chocolate every now and then. If you do munch on these foods, it helps to eat the entire serving at one time, rather than make a sugary snack last all afternoon.
And try to brush your teeth afterward, or at least drink a glass of water to help rinse sugar off your teeth. That way you can enjoy treats even more, and they will not longer harm those pearly whites of yours!
by: Ronald Pedactor
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