Healthy Snacks

Our Four Favorite Snack for Healthy Teeth

April 11th, 2019

Snacking often gets a bad rep because most people snack on junk food. But, you can rest easy knowing that there are healthy snacks that can actually improve your smile.

1 - Apples

Apples are packed with fiber, and that’s great news for teeth. Fiber is an excellent nutrient for mouth-health, and supports a healthy digestive system. Fibrous fruits and vegetables actually scrub teeth as they are being consumed, which helps remove bad mouth bacteria that lead to cavities and tooth decay. Apples contain about 4 grams of fiber, which is around 15% of the daily-recommended amount, depending upon age. Be sure to thoroughly rinse apples before eating them, and leave the skin on – which is a fantastic texture for scrubbing teeth.

2 - Cheese

Cheese is high in calcium, which promotes strong teeth and bones. But the benefits of cheese don’t end there. It also contains a protein called casein, which strengthens tooth enamel and helps keep cavities at bay. Cheese also helps prevent acid from destroying tooth enamel, and it’s a versatile snack that comes in countless varieties. Try finding a cheese that your child enjoys and pack them a few slices for the road. Cheese is easy to transport, and contains a lot of vital vitamins and nutrients that promote a healthy body and mouth.

3 - Carrots

Carrots are full of fiber and vitamin A. As you eat carrots, they stimulate saliva production which helps prevent the buildup of bad bacteria that can lead to cavities. Carrots are a great handheld snack that can be taken anywhere – which makes them easy to pack in a lunch! We suggest packing a small baggie of baby carrots for your child’s lunch as a mouth-healthy substitute for chips. You can make this snack even tastier (and more kid-friendly) by packing it with a bit of yogurt-based dip!

4 - Nuts

Nuts are another handy snack that promote a healthy mouth. Nuts are rich in protein, which helps to build stronger teeth. Chewing nuts promotes saliva production that naturally protects and cleans your teeth by clearing the mouth of debris and acid buildup that can lead to cavities. Nuts are a great healthy alternative to potato chips, or other salty snacks that your kids may crave.

Look for Nutritional Value

The nutritional make-up of mouth-healthy foods can really take your oral health to the next level. When purchasing food for mouth-health, look for foods that contain mouth-healthy vitamins and nutrient that support overall oral health. Vitamin A is essential for saliva production, and is found in oranges, carrots, kale and sweet potatoes. Vitamin C supports gum health, and promotes healthy oral tissue. You can find natural sources of Vitamin A in oranges, broccoli, kale and berries.

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These 4 “Healthy” Foods are Terrible for Teeth

January 24th, 2019

A healthy snack is always a great addition to any diet, but some healthy foods are terrible for teeth. Try limiting these damaging “healthy” foods in your child’s diet to help them maintain a healthy smile.

1 - Trail Mix

A fantastic substitute for unhealthy snack foods is trail mix. But, be careful! If you decide to serve your child trail mix, look out for unhealthy ingredients that can add unhealthy amounts of sugar and fat to their plate. Try to avoid trail mix that has chocolate, dried fruit, and candy. Look for mixes that are unflavored and don’t contain any added sweets.

2 - Dried Fruit

Fruit is always great, right? Wrong! Dried fruit is a food that you should avoid if you’re trying to improve your child’s oral health. Dried fruit contains much higher levels of sugar than their natural counterparts, and none of the water that helps make fruit so healthy. Let’s use prunes as an example. Prunes are just dried plums, except just one cup of prunes contains more than 400 calories and 45 grams of sugar. However, one plum contains just 75 calories and 16 grams of sugar. The bottom line is that you should choose fresh fruit and not dried fruit.

3 - Citrus Fruits

Fruit can be great for improving health, but it can sometimes damage teeth. Citric fruits like oranges, grapefruits, lemon and tangerines have a high amount of acid in them which can lead to tooth enamel erosion. If you serve your child citrus fruits, rinse their mouth out with water after they’re done eating to wash the acid away, and help prevent cavities from forming.

4 - Granola

Granola is typically advertised as a healthier alternative to cereal that people can add into their milk or yogurt for an added dietary benefit. But here’s what they’re not advertising: granola typically contains high amounts of sugar and fat. The added sugar can lead to tooth decay, and the high density of calories can leave your child hungry and cause them to overeat.

If you do choose granola, compare the nutritional values of your options and choose the one with the highest fiber content, and lowest amount of sugar.

Try Cheese or Fibrous Fruits!

Cheese is high in calcium, which promotes strong teeth. But the benefits of cheese don’t end there. It also contains a protein called casein, which strengthens tooth enamel and helps to prevent cavities. Cheese also helps prevent acid from destroying tooth enamel.

Fibrous fruits and vegetables like apples, carrots, celery and nuts are fantastic snacks that are healthy for teeth. That’s because the fibrous nature of these foods allow them to scrub teeth as they’re eaten, which cleans teeth of damaging sugar and acid buildup on the tooth’s surface.

Tags: Healthy Food, Healthy Snacks, Healthy Teeth, Oral Health

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Mouth-Healthy Snacks to Refuel Your Young Athlete

April 27th, 2017

A weekend soccer or trip or daylong volleyball tournament can be a great opportunity to spend time with your family, and support your child as they explore their athletic interests. But, extended time away from home often requires you to pack snacks and meals that your child can enjoy on the sidelines. Sometimes, this leads parents to pack foods that are convenient, but unhealthy for teeth. Pre-packaged sports snacks like granola and energy bars can have high amounts of sugar and stick around after they’re done eating – which can lead to cavities and other oral ailments. To combat this, we’ve listed some of our favorite mouth-healthy foods that are perfect for young athletes that are eating away from home.

Apples

Eating apples can help cleanse and clean teeth, and fight bad breath. The fibrous content of apples cleans teeth by acting as a toothbrush and scrubbing away plaque from teeth, and removing other food debris. The acidity in an apple helps kill off bad bacteria that encourage bad breath. The high amount of fiber in apples also helps keep hunger in check, and the healthy sugar content can provide a quick pick-me-up for a tired athlete. Apples are a great snack to eat right before a match begins, and can keep your athlete feeling full until their game ends.

Nuts

Nuts contain calcium and vitamin D – both of which promote healthy teeth. They also have high amounts of healthy fats and protein that help promote muscle and tissue recovery after workouts have concluded. Nuts are a great salty snack that’s easy to pack and eat on the go. We suggest substituting them in place for starchy, salty snacks like chips and crackers.

Cheese

Yogurt

Yogurt is a great source of protein, which makes it an excellent option as a hearty snack for your child after their game has ended. It’s also high in calcium and casein, and contains a high amount of healthy bacteria. The healthy bacteria in yogurt help eliminate bad bacteria that can stick to teeth and lead to cavities. We suggest adding some granola or nuts to a cup of non-fat Greek yogurt for a well-rounded meal that helps your child recover after a long workout.

Yogurt is a dental super-food that is mouth-healthy and very mobile – making it perfect for eating away from home. Just make sure to keep any yogurt you pack refrigerated in a lunchbox or mini cooler.

Visit our Office

If you’re concerned about your child’s diet affecting their oral health, or worried that they may have cavities, then visit our office. We will perform a comprehensive oral exam, and determine the best treatment plan for their specific case. We can also offer advice on dietary choices that improve oral health, and how you can help keep your kids away from cavities.

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Tooth Friendly Super Bowl Snacks

January 23rd, 2014

Are you ready for the Big Game? A Super Bowl get-together demands super snacks but not at the expense of your teeth. That's why we've put together a few tasty game day snacking ideas with healthy ingredients. Of course, these are snacks, and none of them are perfect. Regardless of what you eat, don't forget to brush!

Spicy Jalapeño Dip

What's in it:

1 16 oz. tub low-fat sour cream
1 packet of Hidden Valley Ranch (or other brand) Fiesta Dip
1 jalapeno, seeded and cubed

How it's done:

Combine all ingredients in a blender and blend thoroughly.
Serve the dip with raw vegetables such as carrots and celery.

What makes it tooth friendly:

This dip with a kick will make your veggies disappear. Raw veggies require lots of chewing which stimulates and promotes healthy gums. Carrots contain beta-carotene that your body uses to create vitamin A which works to build strong teeth. The sour cream in this dip gives your teeth a boost of Calcium which also helps to keep your teeth strong.

Hummus with Cucumber

What's in it:

1/4 cup lemon juice
2 (15 ounce) cans chickpeas, one drained, one with liquid
4 tablespoons sesame seeds
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 garlic clove, peeled
1 teaspoon cumin
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon pepper
1 cucumber
1/2 tablespoon parsley

How it's done:

Place all ingredients in a blender in the order listed except for the cucumber.
Blend for approximately 1 to 1 and a half minutes, pulsing as necessary.
Slice up the cucumber into thick pieces for dipping.
Place hummus in serving bowl and drizzle additional olive oil on top with some parsley for garnish.

What makes it tooth friendly:

Protein rich chickpeas don't contain any saturated fat or cholesterol, making hummus a good choice for your overall health. Chickpeas are also rich in folic acid, which keeps your mouth healthy by promoting cell growth throughout your body. As to the cucumbers, not only are they a healthy alternative to chips, but they are rich in vitamins B and C and have even been shown to help freshen breath and naturally whiten teeth!

The Party Standard: The Meat & Cheese Tray

What's in it:
This party tray is a cheese buffet with Gouda, White Cheddar, Havarti and Chipotle Jack.
Shaped like a football field on a kale turf, it includes red grapes, whole wheat crackers and summer sausage.

What makes it tooth friendly:
The cheese on the sidelines plays quarterback in this party tray. Cheese is a tooth powerhouse with tons of tooth strengthening calcium and a protein called casein which is amazingly effective in protecting the surface of your teeth. One note about the crackers, however. We chose whole wheat crackers for their beneficial fiber, but all crackers can stick to teeth and promote bacteria growth. Again, just be sure to brush after the game!

Baked Cheese Roll

What's in it:
Goat Cheese Log
Grape or Olive Oil
1 small carton of Grape Tomatoes (sliced)
Basil Pesto
Balsamic Glaze
French Bread or Crackers

How it's done:
Preheat oven to 350°
In a jelly roll pan or small casserole dish, add approximately 1/4 inch of grape or olive oil.
Place goat cheese in the pan and cover with pesto, then grape tomatoes.
Bake for 20-30 minutes, remove from the oven and drizzle with balsamic glaze.
Serve with French bread or your favorite healthy crackers.

What makes it tooth friendly:
If cheese made from cow's milk is a powerhouse, goat cheese is a touchdown. It contains more protein and calcium than cow's milk cheese and yet has less fat and calories per serving. The higher calcium of goat cheese means even more protection for your teeth.

Healthy 7-Layer Dip

What's in it:
3 Cups black beans
6 Oz. Greek yogurt (plain)
1 Cup shredded cheese
1 small can sliced black olives

Guacamole:
2 avocados
2 Tbsp. chopped cilantro
1 chopped chive
Juice from 1/2 lime
1 clove minced garlic
1/2 seeded and diced Jalapeño

Pico De Gallo:
2 small diced tomatoes
2 Tbsp. chopped cilantro
Juice from 1/2 lime
1/2 seeded and diced Jalapeño
1 chopped chive

How it's done:
Mix together all ingredients for the pico de gallo.
In a separate bowl, mix the ingredients for the guacamole layer.
The ingredients can be added in the following order (starting at the bottom): beans, yogurt, cheese, olives, guacamole, pico de gallo.

What makes it tooth friendly:
This dish has it all and it's a great update of what is usually a calorie dense snack. While tomato and citrus juices can be tough on your teeth because of their high acidity, the cheese and Greek yogurt help to balance that out. Plus, this dish is high in vitamins E, A and C, which are all essential for a healthy mouth. Choosing celery or another vegetable over chips would make this an even better choice for your teeth.

Remember, regardless of what you choose to snack on during the Super Bowl, be sure to brush twice a day for two minutes each time! What will you be snacking on during the Big Game this year? Comment below and let us know!

Tags: Food for Teeth, Healthy Eating, Healthy Snacks, Vitamins

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