Mom, I’m Hungry!

Healthy Snacks for Healthy Teeth

Kids seem to want to eat all day long. Nibble, play, munch, play, nibble. While this may be a good way to keep a healthy metabolism and is clearly the natural instinct of children, unless those snacks are pretty healthy, they could lead to an increase in tooth decay.

How Does Snacking Cause Tooth Decay?

Tooth decay happens when harmful bacteria in the mouth consume simple sugars, converting them into acid plaque. This acid plaque wears holes in the outer layer of enamel on teeth.

Because our kids aren’t brushing after every little snack, we have to be sure that the snacks they’re eating won’t make them prone to forming cavities.

Snacks That Keep Teeth Healthy

Fresh fruits and vegetables are the best possible choice for snacking between meals. Not only are fresh fruits and veggies the healthiest food choices possible, they also prompt the mouth to make a little more saliva, which helps naturally wash food particles from tooth surfaces.  Snack Smart!

Other good snack choices include homemade popcorn, low-fat cheeses and small portions of nuts and seeds.

Snacks That Should be Avoided

High sugar snacks like candies and other sweets are obviously not the best choice for snacking if tooth health is the goal. Sticky sweets are generally the worst culprits when it comes to tooth decay. Snacks that are gooey, chewy or gummy tend to stick to teeth, allowing decay-causing bacteria all the more opportunity to get their fill of their favorite fuel.

Choosing healthy snacks is a good step in staying away from tooth decay.

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