Most of us are guilty of indulging in snacks between meals every now and then. These small bites to eat can give us a boost of energy before our next meal, but this habit can prove harmful to our dental health if we are not careful.
Frequent snacking exposes the teeth to lingering food particles that could cause irreversible damage. Limiting your snacking habits can protect your smile, but occasional snacks will not interfere with your ability to preserve your dental health if you adhere to tips from your dentist. Check out this advice from your dentist in Morristown, NJ that can ensure your teeth stay healthy after enjoying a snack.
Choose Foods That Are Good for Your Teeth
You can minimize potential dental problems from snacking when you make conscientious choices when it comes to the foods you consume. Keep your pantry stocked with healthy food items that will not hurt your teeth like many popular snacks can do.
Sugar in particular poses the greatest threat to your dental health because it becomes acidic when it reacts with saliva. The resulting acid can erode your tooth enamel, weakening the teeth to the point you will have a high risk of forming cavities.
Avoid sugary and acidic foods and snacks to prevent this oral health concern. If you do crave something sweet, try yogurt, berries, or other foods that do not feature added sugar.
Dairy products like yogurt contain calcium that will actually strengthen your teeth. Talk to your dentist about other snack options that can benefit your oral health.
Stick to Quick Snacks
The length of time you spend snacking can also majorly impact the effect these foods will have on your smile. One reason dentists caution against frequent snacking is that people tend to consume snacks mindlessly to the point that they lose track of time and spend much longer eating than necessary.
Not only could this disrupt your diet, but it may hurt your teeth as well. Spending longer amounts of time eating means that your teeth are exposed to food particles for a more extended period. Bits of food on your teeth will eat away at your dental structure. This deteriorates the enamel and makes your smile more vulnerable to many oral health issues.
Take note of how long you tend to snack. To better address this concern, choose a snack that will take a shorter amount of time to eat. For instance, sucking on a lollipop or hard candy could prove a greater threat to your teeth than a quick bite of a carrot or celery.
Rinse Your Mouth After Snacking
You can boost protection for your smile after a snack when you rinse lingering food particles from your mouth. The longer these bits of food cling to your teeth, the more damage they can create for your enamel.
In an ideal situation, you should brush your teeth to scrub away these bits of food. But you do not always have easy access to your oral hygiene supplies.
You can also rinse away food particles in your mouth by drinking water. The water will wash your mouth in a pinch and can also help you avoid developing bad breath. Find more preventative oral health care advice when you give your dentist a call.