Good and Bad Snacks for the Teeth

A balanced diet nourishes and provides your gums and teeth the nutrients they need to stay resilient against dental disease. Limit the number of between-meals snacks you enjoy to reduce the risk of cavities, and when you do snack, make good choices with foods that are beneficial for your teeth.

• Some great snacking options include:
• String cheese or cubes of cheese
• Fresh fruit, especially pears, apples, or citrus fruits
• Vegetables, including raw carrots, celery, sugar snap peas, and bell peppers
• Hard-boiled eggs
• Pita bread with hummus and cucumber slices
• Unsweetened Greek yogurt with berries or chopped fruit
• Plain popcorn
• Nuts
• Smoothies made with yogurt and fresh fruit

If you have a sweet tooth, look for dark chocolate rather than milk chocolate. Dark chocolate is higher in flavonoids and polyphenols, which are antioxidants that are vital for tooth health. Dark chocolate is also lower in sugar content, which makes it less likely to feed oral bacteria and so less likely to contribute to bacterial growth.

Snacks to avoid include sticky candies like caramel or fruit candy, potato chips, crackers, energy drinks, soda, juice drinks, and candy bars. These foods are often starchy, high in sugar or high in acid and feed oral bacteria, which in turn churn out acids that attack the enamel on your teeth and contribute to the demineralization of enamel and tooth decay. Call us today to learn more or to schedule an appointment with our general dentist in Huntington Beach.