Sugary snacks taste so good — but they aren't so good for your teeth or your body. Sugary foods that kids love to eat, like candy, cookies, ice cream, if eaten between meals, can cause tooth decay. Starchy snacks can also break down into sugars once they're in your mouth. This is very important especially for kids with diabetes.
How do sugars attack your teeth? There is bacteria that lives in your mouth all day long. These bacteria form plaque on your teeth throughout the day. When you eat sugar, the bacteria eats the plaque and forms acids which are strong enough to dissolve enamel. Remember that enamel is the strongest part of the human body. So these acids are quick powerful How can watching my snack consumption help protect me from tooth decay? Keep a log of what snacks you consume. If the snack has sugars in it, think again about consuming it. Also remember that some sugar snacks actually cause more damage than others. Sticky and chewy sweets stick to the surface of your teeth and because sticky snacks stay in your mouth longer than foods that you quickly chew and swallow, they bath in the sugar longer. This will cause tooth decay. How often do you eat snacks? Do you eat sugary snacks throughout the day, or do you usually just have dessert after dinner? Remember acids form in your mouth every time you eat a sugary snack. The acids continue to do damage on your teeth for at least 20 minutes until they are neutralized and can't do any more harm. The more times a day you snack, the more likely acids are building in your mouth and causing damage. It is best to eat sugary foods at mealtime and not throughout the day. Remember to brush and floss to remove sugary substances from mouth after you consume them. When you're choosing snacks to eat think about:
Choosing healthy snacks is good for your body and for your teeth. Healthy choices like raw vegetables, fresh fruits, or whole-grain crackers or bread are smart choices. Be particular when choosing snacks- you can make wise choices and help keep your teeth shiny and healthy. Pick a variety of foods from these groups: Fresh Fruit - Melons - Pears - Oranges - Berries - Pineapple Raw Veggies - Carrots - Celery - Cucumbers - Broccoli Grains -Whole-grain bread -Pretzels (unsalted or low-salt) - Cereals (unsweetened) - Plain bagels Nuts & Seeds - Pumpkin seeds (unsalted or low-salt) - Sunflower seeds (unsalted or low-salt) - Nuts (unsalted or low-salt) Meats & Protein - Baked chicken or turkey - Peanut butter (unsalted or low-salt) Dairy - Cottage cheese (low or non-fat) - Yogurt (low or non-fat) Don't Forget! If you eat sweets, eat them for dessert instead of munching on them throughout the day. And remember to brush and floss your teeth after every snack or meal! Tooth brushing plays an important everyday role for personal oral hygiene and effective plaque removal. Appropriate toothbrush care and maintenance are also important considerations for sound oral hygiene. The ADA recommends that consumers replace toothbrushes approximately every 3–4 months or sooner if the bristles become frayed with use.
Storing Your Toothbrush Properly
Replace toothbrushes at least every 3–4 months. The bristles become frayed and worn with daily use and the effectiveness will be reduced. Toothbrushes will wear out more rapidly depending on habits associated to each patient. Check brushes often for this type of wear and replace them more frequently if needed. Children’s toothbrushes often need replacing more frequently than adult brushes. You can google “toothbrush storage” for some fun ways to store your toothbrush. Storage of your toothbrush can be fun and stylish. There are good and bad associated with gummy vitamins.
1st comes the good news
2nd comes the bad news
What can you do to minimize the risks of chewable vitamins? You can switch to other types of vitamins (some forms still contain sugar, but they are not adding the sticky component). Please still brush after any food, candy or vitamin to minimize risk to teeth. Please Brush after taking gummy vitamin to remove any sticky particles left behind. It may be a good idea to floss as well, gummy vitamins can become lodged between teeth which can increase plaque and bacteria causing tooth decay. If you have any questions on gummy vitamins or any other dental related topic, please ask your dental team. |
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Young at Heart Dental and Braces with Vision Now! 317 W 3rd St., Suite 104 La Junta, CO 81050 Phone: 719-733-3303 |