Are you someone who likes to snack? Have you ever been teased a bit for always having some sort of food or drink nearby? If you love to graze throughout the day, rather than simply eating a few meals, you might not have ever thought about how this may affect your oral health. Must it be something negative? Not at all! However, can this be a problem for your smile health? Of course. Fortunately, there are some details our Virginia Beach, VA dental team can share with you that you may wish to consider. They just might make snacking something you can enjoy without worrying that you’re doing something to hurt your smile!
#1: Prolonging Them Can Be Disastrous!
When you eat snacks in one sitting (which means, you eat for an amount of time that actually ends), you’re exposing your smile to damaging particles like sugar and carbohydrates for just a little bit. Now, let’s talk about prolonged snacking. Maybe you slowly eat a package of candy, sucking on each piece, throughout your whole work day! Your smile is never given a break, which is not good for your oral health. Instead of a quick shock of acid, your smile is exposed all day. What should you do, so you’re not setting up a decay-friendly environment? Find a better snack that’s not sugary or carb-y or, simply limit snack time to shorter intervals (like a 10-minute snack period in late morning and then afternoon).
#2: You Can Clean Your Smile Easily Afterward
It’s very easy to clean your smile after you snack and it’s also extremely beneficial for your oral health! Fortunately, you have many different ways you can approach your post-snack cleanup:
- Chew gum that is free of sugar (gum with xylitol is good for your smile!) to remove the food you just ate and to increase salivation
- Rinse with water
- Brush your teeth about 30 minutes or so after you rinse
- Floss if necessary
#3: There Are “Better” Options
Our team suggests that instead of always reaching for sweet snacks that contain sugar or something full of carbs, you try to go with calcium-and-dairy-rich products or veggies. They are safe for your oral health! Try yogurt, string cheese, sliced celery with cream cheese, carrot sticks, and more!
Snack To Your Heart’s Content With Our Tips
Rather than assuming you are limited with your food intake, simply talk with us about alternatives or solutions when you want to snack, eat candy, etc., so we can help! Contact Absolute Dental Care today in Virginia Beach, VA to schedule a visit by calling (757) 428-7440. We proudly welcome patients Virginia Beach, Chesapeake, Norfolk, Suffolk, Hampton, Eastern Shore, and all surrounding communities.
