A dental hygienist’s perspective on healthy snacks for kids
School is back in session! This makes me think back to the
days I would get home from school (famished) and reach for the gummy bears and
grape juice as an after-school snack. I am writing this blog to highlight
different teeth-friendly foods to help get you through the school season
without earning new cavities. Some foods may taste great, and even be
considered “healthy” but can still have a negative effect on the teeth.
One of the biggest things that we take into consideration is
how sticky the snack is. Snacks like raisins, fruit-roll-ups, gummy bears, and
licorice are not the best choice for your teeth. They have what we call a
‘retentive factor’. They stick to the surface of the tooth more so that other
foods.
The surface of a tooth has peaks and valleys. The diagram to the right
illustrates the surface of a tooth. The trenched
–out valley part of the tooth is where pieces of sticky food get lodged and can
burrow down into deep grooves eventually causing decay. The deep valley of the tooth is the most common
surface to get a cavity. Even with a good brushing routine, the bristles of the
toothbrush have trouble reaching the full depth of the valley.
Some examples of teeth-friendly
snacks would be carrots, apples, bananas, cheese and cashews. Not only are they
healthy for your body, but they are known to have low amounts of sugar as well.
All of those options are less likely to
get caught in the grooves of teeth and are said to brush out easier than the
chewy choices.
It is interesting that some foods
that are considered healthy may still cause distress in areas of the mouth.
Just keep in mind when diving for a snack, go for something that will not leave
a lasting impression on your teeth!
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