Dental care starts with what you eat. At Encino Pediatric Dental Group, we want to make sure that you, as a parent, know what types of snacks can hinder your child’s dental care. Here are only a few of the snacks to stay away from as much as possible.
SUGARY SNACKS
Sugar is sugar, and it’s no secret that snacks high in sugar are bad for you. Regardless of the type of sugar – white, brown, honey, processed – it is more about the amount of consumption than the amount of sugar itself. Sugar bathes your teeth in acid, and the more frequently that you consume sugar the more frequently your teeth are covered in acid. The best way to avoid sugary snacks is by having sweet foods during meals, when saliva can neutralize the acid. Also, brushing within 20 minutes of snacking on sweet snacks or meals.
DRIED FRUIT
Dried fruit, while seemingly healthier, are also high in sugar. Through the processing, these fruits sugar levels almost double. Their chewy or hard composure can easily damage the biting surfaces of our teeth. An easy fix to this is snacking on fresh fruits and vegetables.
FRUIT JUICES & SODA
Both of these contain high amounts of sugar and acidity. What separates these from typical snacks is that they are liquid, making it easier for them to get to places that food can’t. Juice and soda have the ability to get in between your teeth, bringing the sugar and acidity closer to your gums and the root of your tooth.
GUMMY SNACKS
Gummy vitamins, fruit roll ups, and gummy snacks are all full of sugar and super sticky. After eating these snacks, they will often get stuck on the biting surfaces of the teeth. If the biting surface of the tooth has deep grooves, it is almost impossible to clean out the sugar left behind by the gummy snack, even with brushing.
Managing these types of snacks can help keep your oral health in a great condition. If you have any questions about the snacks that you’re consuming, contact Encino Pediatric Dental Group.