23 Jul Serve Up These Smile-Friendly Summer Foods
Summer get-togethers are filled with food and fun, but are you serving foods that are helping or hurting your oral health? Keep reading for some smile-friendly foods you and your guests can enjoy.
Crunchy Snacks
If you’re looking for alternatives to salty chips that can get stuck in your teeth, try a crunchy fruit or vegetable spread including apples, carrots, or celery. These foods are less likely to get stuck in your teeth. In fact, they increase saliva production to assist in loosening food in your teeth, help kill bacteria that can cause bad breath, and their crunchiness can scrub your teeth.
Dairy
Cheese and yogurt have lactic acid that can help to prevent tooth decay and gum disease, as well as calcium to strengthen the enamel in your teeth. Hard cheeses can benefit your teeth by removing food particles from your teeth, which can help keep them from losing their brightness.
Nix the Seeds
You may be used to seeds on your buns, but those seeds can get stuck in your teeth. Instead, try buns that do not have seeds on them. Avoid seeded fruits like kiwi and raspberries and try seedless watermelon or bananas.
Citrus
Citrus fruits like pineapple, oranges, and grapefruit increase salivation to rinse your teeth naturally. You can also use lemon on foods to add flavor but avoid biting directly into lemons because the acidity will erode the enamel on your teeth.
Crushed Ice
Crunching on ice is tempting when you’re finished with your drink or trying to stay cool, but did you know it puts you at risk of breaking a tooth or damaging tooth enamel. Instead, serve cubed ice, or avoid the ice altogether by chilling your drinks in an ice chest.
If you’re looking to keep that smile healthy or interested in restoring your bright smile, John R. Carson, DDS can help. Make an appointment at our dentist office in Tucson by calling (520) 514-7203.