Best and Worst Snacks for Your Smile

If you are raising kids, you know that stocking snacks in your pantry is a must. Whether you have a toddler or teenager, their growing bodies often need some fuel between meals. The snack options you give your family, however, are very important –  not just for their body but for their smile.

At Gainesville Dental Group, we want you to know the best and worst snacks for your teeth. Some of them may surprise you.

Avoid These Snacks for Healthy Teeth

The combination of refined carbs, sugars and acids are the most dangerous for your teeth because these substances can mix with oral bacteria to create plaque, enamel erosion and cavities. For a dental-friendly pantry, avoid purchasing the following:

Chewy or gummy fruit snacks. Even “healthy” fruit snacks that are chewy can be worse for your child’s teeth than chocolate. This includes dried fruits like raisins!

Potato chips: The starch in potato chips gets converted to sugar while the chips are still in your mouth. Then they can lodge and stick in between the teeth to cause more damage. The same can be true of muffins or processed pastries that are high in both sugars and carbs.

Consider These Snacks to Avoid Dental Disruption

Not only can you avoid decay and dental damage with the following snacks, but some of them can even improve your oral health.

Fresh Fruits and Veggies. You can’t go wrong with fresh produce. Options like apples and celery are high in fiber and water, which can help neutralize sugars and clean the teeth. You’ll also reap the benefit of more saliva as you chew, and our own saliva can be one of the best weapons against decay.

Dairy Products. Not only are yogurt, cheese and other low-sugar dairy products packed with healthy protein, they also offer calcium and other minerals that strengthen tooth enamel. Cheese is an excellent way to stimulate saliva and neutralize acids in the mouth, especially after eating other “not so healthy” snacks.

For more tips on dental-friendly snacks for your family, contact Gainesville Dental Group.

Posted on behalf of Gainesville Dental Group