Snack Smart to Avoid Dental Emergencies in Quarantine!

Imagine you’re eating popcorn while binge-watching Netflix or snacking on nuts as you work from home. Suddenly you hear a loud crunch followed by a pain in your mouth. The last thing you need is a broken or cracked tooth during the COVID-19 pandemic! That’s why it’s more important than ever that we snack smart and mind our munching habits while in quarantine. Find out what your Pleasant Grove dentist recommends eating to keep your smile happy, healthy, and intact while social distancing.

Dangerous Snacks to Avoid

You probably already know that eating too much sugar can lead to painful cavities. However, other common culprits behind food-related dental discomfort and damage include:

• Ice cubes and nuts: Hard snacks wear down your enamel as you chew them. This leads to weakened teeth and increases your risk of suddenly chipping or cracking them.
• Sticky candies and dried fruits: Treats that are sugary and sticky encourage tooth decay in hard to clean places and can loosen or dislodge dental work like fillings or crowns.
• Popcorn: This popular snack can easily fracture your teeth if you bite down on a hidden un-popped kernel. If a kernel shell becomes wedged between your teeth and gums, it can irritate and scratch your soft tissues, which can then get infected.

Smile-Friendly Foods to Enjoy

Thankfully, you can just as easily improve your oral health with a few simple adjustments to your daily diet. Try substituting the snacks above with tasty options like:

• Apples and cucumbers: Certain fruits and vegetables can help prevent cavities. Items high in fiber and water content gently scrub your teeth and wash away plaque as you chew them.
• Turkey and cheese: Dairy products and lean proteins can help fortify teeth and strengthen the jaw. The calcium and phosphorus they contain are used to rebuild enamel and bone tissue.
• Oranges, tomatoes, and strawberries: Vitamin C is a versatile nutrient that can help your body fight off infection, keep your gums healthy, and boost your immune system.

Now more than ever, we should do everything we can to be careful, snack smart, and avoid dental emergencies. However, not all accidents can be avoided, so call your Pleasant Grove dentist right away if you need urgent dental care.

About the Practice

With 11 convenient locations and a variety of Board-Certified specialists on our team, you can count on Bear Creek Family Dentistry for quick, effective urgent dental care in the DFW area. When you call one of our offices with a dental emergency, we will do everything we can to see you within a few hours to provide immediate pain relief and create a long-term plan for your oral health. No matter what dental issue you’re facing, our highly trained general dentists and in-house specialists in pediatric dentistry, oral surgery, orthodontics, and prosthodontics will have you smiling again in no time. They can be contacted via their website or at (214) 420-4400.