Staying healthy seems to be top-of-mind for everyone these days. We’d like to share some information on how snacking not only affects your waistline but the health of your teeth, as well. Don’t worry, you don’t need to starve to keep your teeth healthy, but you do need to give your teeth a break. Do you know why? Read on to find out more.
It’s well known that sugary snacks can increase your chances of tooth decay. Frequent snacking also raises the pH levels in your mouth which promotes the growth of bacteria. With the following tips, you will learn how to avoid the need for constant snacking and how to restore the pH in your mouth to prevent the damage from those natural acids.
- Stick to meal planning: Preparing your daily meals ahead of time has a positive impact on your body and the effectiveness of your diet plan, and keeps away the need for snacks. This helps you be more conscious of what and when you’re going to eat.
- Don’t skip meals: Skipping meals is a huge mistake a lot of people make. Skipping breakfast or lunch can lead to an uncontrollable craving for food. Take time to eat and enjoy your meals. This practice keeps you full and helps you hold on until the next meal without the need to grab a “quick bite” every 15 minutes.
- Choose water: Instead of fruit juice, a fizzy drink or flavored water, choose the ultimate perfect drink: water. Easier to get, cheaper, and much healthier, water is the only drink that doesn’t alter the pH of your mouth and keeps your body properly hydrated.
- Snack smarter: Instead of grabbing snacks every few minutes, plan a snacking time between meals every hour or so. Choose alkaline foods that are healthy for both your body and your teeth such as: cucumbers, asparagus, sweet potatoes, broccoli, apples, carrots, or celery.
- Don’t brush your teeth immediately after snacking: Especially if you ate an acidic snack, avoid rushing to your sink. The combination of acidic components with the ones in the toothpaste you use can put you at risk of causing erosion to the tooth enamel.
These are just a few tips that you can use to keep your teeth healthy and your overall weight in check, too. We look forward to seeing you again!
