The Best Snacks for a Happy, Healthy Smile

Better oral health may be as close as your kitchen! Everyone knows that sugary foods, candies, and sodas are bad for your teeth, but did you know that eating certain foods can help your mouth get healthier? By cutting back on sugar and adding a few smile-friendly snacks into your diet, you can rebuild your enamel, fight off gum disease, and keep those pearly whites shining bright. Your dentist in Far North Dallas explains which foods can help keep your smile happy and healthy.

Prevent Tooth Decay with Raw Veggies

Raw carrots, celery, and broccoli are full of important nutrients, including fiber. These fibrous vegetables lightly scrub your teeth as you chew them, physically removing any built-up plaque and bacteria that would otherwise eat away at your enamel and cause cavities. They also continue to help prevent tooth decay by encouraging the production of saliva, which acts as a natural mouthwash.

Fight Gum Disease and Oral Infections with Vitamin C

Vitamin C can boost your immune system and help it effectively fight off infections throughout your body, including your mouth. A bacterial infection in the gum tissues is the first stage of a common condition called gum disease. If left untreated, this infection can worsen and permanently destroy the gums as well as the connective tissues that hold your teeth in place. Thankfully, gum disease can be kept in check by great oral hygiene habits and a healthy immune system.

Rebuild Enamel with Dairy and Lean Protein

Although your enamel is strong, once it wears down, it doesn’t regenerate. Eating calcium-rich foods like non- or low-fat milk, cheese, and yogurt can fortify your enamel by replacing the minerals it’s lost. Phosphorous, a mineral found in foods like lean meats, fish, eggs, and beans, works in tandem with calcium to maximize its effectiveness. These healthy snacks help strengthen your teeth and lower their chances of breaking.

Bonus Snack: Tap Water

Researchers estimate that a whopping 75% of Americans are chronically dehydrated. Not only does dehydration cause fatigue, irritability, and a slower metabolism, but a lack of saliva increases your risk of cavities. Sipping water throughout the day will continuously rinse off your teeth and clear away any lingering plaque or bacteria. But before you grab that bottle of water, check its nutrition label to see how much fluoride it contains. Many communities boost the levels of fluoride in their tap water, which binds with your enamel to make it even stronger than before.  So when you grab a healthy snack, consider getting a glass of tap water to go with it!

With the right foods and a great dental healthcare routine, you can improve your oral health every day. Try adding these smile-friendly snacks to your daily diet for a delicious and natural way to get a brighter, healthier smile.

About the Practice

Every personalized dental treatment plan at Bear Creek Family Dentistry starts with preventive care. Our team of highly skilled dentists is trained to identify and treat small issues before they become larger problems. Unfortunately, most oral health conditions can develop without you seeing or feeling them until damage has been caused, which is why we encourage our patients to see us for a dental checkup every six months. For more practical tips on maintaining great oral hygiene at home, feel free to contact any of our offices at our website or the phone numbers listed there.