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National Smile Month – Are “Healthy Snacks” Wrecking Your Teeth?

12-Jun-2014

It’s National Smile Month (May 19 – June 19), and the spotlight is on the UK’s teeth and gums. This massive oral health campaign by the British Dental Foundation aims to get everyone thinking about their oral health. The campaign has 3 key messages:

Brush your teeth for 2 minutes twice a day with a fluoride toothpaste
Cut down on how often you have sugary foods and drinks
Visit your dentist regularly, as often as they recommend

Brushing our teeth, using a fluoride toothpaste and visiting the dentist regularly are easy steps we can take to protect our teeth. But cutting down on sugary foods and drinks is easier said than done. Modern life means we often have to eat and run. And it’s not always easy to work out which foods and drinks are better than others.

We all know that sugar, fizzy drinks and sweets are bad for our teeth. So when we reach for “healthy options” are they really better for our teeth?

“Healthy” snacks that harm teeth

Citrus Fruits: Lemons, limes and grapefruits are fine in moderation. But being acidic, eating too much too often can spell disaster for tooth enamel.
Dried Fruit: Sweet and sticky dried fruit makes a satisfying snack. But it also gets stuck all over our teeth and feeds the bacteria that leads to cavities.
Carbs: Surprisingly, rice, pasta and bread can be bad for teeth. It’s because enzymes in saliva break carbohydrates down into sugar, which helps form acid. Eating wholegrain is better than refined white carbs, but both have the potential to harm tooth enamel.
Fruit juice: Even unsweetened natural fruit juice contains lots of (natural) sugar. Some fruit juices, such as cranberry, can be as acid as vinegar.

When we snack really matters

Recent thinking suggests it’s not just what we eat, it’s when we eat it that matters. Strategic snacking could help protect our teeth and allow us to eat the naughty things we enjoy – in moderation.

Eat 3 meals a day
Have no more than 2 snacks each day
Have sugary foods around mealtimes

Healthy snack swap guide

BAD	BETTER	BEST
Pop (even ‘diet’/sugar-free’), sports drinks, vitamin water, fruit juice and carbonated mineral water	Milk	Still tap water
Sweets	Plain or dark chocolate	Sugar-free sweets containing Xylitol
Crisps, popcorn, white bread and crackers	Wholemeal bread or crackers	Cheese
Citrus fruit and dried fruit	Fresh fruit such as strawberries and apples	Celery or carrots
Coffee and black tea	Green tea	Water
Muffin	Plain croissant	Nuts
Granola	Shredded Wheat	Eggs or unsweetened yoghurt

How to limit the damage

We’re all human, and there are times when we just won’t be able to resist a sugary treat. Eating and drinking sweet things at mealtimes – rather than in between meals – is better for teeth. It might seem like a good idea to brush teeth straight after eating or drinking, but it’s actually better to rinse your mouth with water. Or eat a piece of cheese to neutralise the acid. And if you have to have fruit juice or pop, drink it through a straw to help keep the drink away from your teeth as much as possible.

We hope these tips help you keep our smile happy. If you’d like more advice about oral health, please get in touch with our friendly team at Sharoe Green Dental Practice.