Healthy Snacks For Your Teeth

When that midday burst of hunger hits, what snack do you grab? Not only can the snacks you eat affect your overall health, but they impact your dental health as well. Certain foods we snack on, such as chips and other crunchy foods can remain trapped in our teeth for the rest of the day. This causes plaque build-up and can lead to overall bad dental hygiene.

If you snack regularly, be sure to choose for one of these teeth-friendly options:

Snacks That Are Good For Your Teeth

• Fresh Fruits and Vegetables

• Hummus

• Milk and Dairy Products

• Eggs

• Whole Grains

• Nuts and Seeds

Fresh Fruits and Vegetables

Fruits and vegetables are a crucial part of every balanced diet. Crunchy fruits and vegetables such as celery, apples, and carrots help clean plaque from teeth and freshen breath. Other nutrient-filled fruits and vegetables help protect gums and other tissues from cell damage and bacterial infection.

Choose from these options for a healthy snack:

• Tangerines

• Pears

• Melons

• Unsweetened fruit and vegetable juices

• Tomatoes

Hummus

Chickpeas don’t contain saturated fat or cholesterol, but they are rich in folic acid. This acid helps to keep your mouth healthy by promoting the growth of cells throughout your body.

Pairing your dip with some cucumbers offers a great source of vitamin B as well as a natural way to whiten your teeth!

Milk and Dairy Products

Dairy products are perfect for oral health because they are rich in calcium, which is excellent for strengthening your teeth. Pick one of these foods to make your teeth stronger and protect your tooth enamel:

• Cottage cheese

• Low or non-fat yogurts

• Cheese

Eggs

Phosphorous is one of the most plentiful minerals in your body, and it’s essential to good oral health. Eggs are a great source of phosphorus, and therefore, they help to protect and strengthen tooth enamel.

Not only are they rich in phosphorous, but eggs also contain high amounts of protein, which protects your mouth from cavity-causing acids.

Whole Grains

You may be thinking that carbs cannot possibly be good for your teeth, as they contribute to the formation of cavities. However, whole grains have complex carbohydrates which give bacteria less digestible food for them to grow.

Additionally, whole grains offer other nutrients such as fiber, calcium, vitamins B and C, and minerals such as iron and magnesium. These vitamins help to fortify your smile against disease and strengthen your teeth.

Some options for adding healthy whole grains into your diet include:

• Plain crackers

• Unsweetened cereals

• Low-salt pretzels

• Baked tortilla chips

Nuts and Seeds

These small snacks have a significant impact on your oral health. Nuts and seeds work to replenish the minerals in your tooth enamel that acidic food can remove.

To check if your snack is healthy, read the label. The Nutritional Facts panel on the packaging will list sugars and fats. If either of these is high in value, it may be a good idea to swap your snack for another option.