Is Snacking Good or Bad for Your Teeth?

You probably enjoy snacking on various treats and goodies to get through the day. Chips, pretzels, candy — such things can make the daily grind more manageable. Eating them is often easy to excuse, too, as you can exercise later to burn excess calories. However, these in-between meals don’t just impact your weight. As it turns out, they could be harming your oral health. To learn more, here’s a summary of how snacking can hurt teeth and ways to keep it from ruining your smile. 

How Can Snacking Hurt Your Teeth?

The fact is that the foods you eat and how often you eat them affect your teeth’s condition.

For instance, take sugary or starchy products. When you have these items, your mouth bacteria create acids that wear down your tooth enamel. This process can then cause cavities and even infections. Left untreated, the decay will progress and eventually lead to tooth loss.

This outcome isn’t dependent on large snacks, either. It could also happen if you have many small snacks involving these foods throughout the day. So, if you have a habit of frequent snacking, you could be damaging your teeth and putting yourself at risk.

Tips to Prevent Snacking

The best way to stop snack-related dental issues is to stop snacking. Try the following things so that you can reduce the need for it:

• Eat a well-balanced diet – Items rich in vitamins, protein, calcium, and phosphorus reduce your snack cravings. Plus, they’ll strengthen your teeth!
• Remember breakfast – It’s the most important meal of the day! Start your morning with something high in protein to fuel your body for what’s ahead.
• Avoid sweets – Limit how much sugary and processed food you eat as best you can. Overconsumption can harm your teeth.
• Drink water – Rather than fruit juices and soda, opt for a refreshing glass of water.

Healthy Snacking Alternatives

Consider healthy alternatives instead of sugary stuff if you need to indulge in a snack. Raw vegetables would be a good choice — they’re tasty and have a satisfying crunch. You could also have cheese, though it can have a lot of fat. Other smart snack options are yogurt, almonds, grapes, and bananas.

As you can see, snacking can have many poor effects on the health of your teeth and gums. However, you can support your healthy smile by following the tips and suggestions above!

About the Author

Dr. Ukti Phadnis is one of the top dentists in the Wethersfield, Connecticut area. She greatly cares for her work and offers a wide range of preventive, cosmetic, and restorative dental treatments. In fact, her dedication to excellence and attention to detail ensures that her patients always receive a beautiful, healthy smile. Dr. Phadnis currently practices at Wethersfield Dental Group and can be reached at her website or by phone at (860)-400-3007.