While nutritionists agree that 3 meals per day and minimal or no snacking is the best way to go, there are times when we are all a bit peckish and need something to keep us going. So if you want to avoid dental decay and have a hectic lifestyle why not consider trying some of the things below. Here is our list of top 10 low risk snacks for your family.
Snacks ?Rice cakes, oat cakes, crisp breads, breadsticks, mini pitta breads ?Vegetable strips - carrots, sweet pepper, celery, cucumber ?Mini salads - lettuce sweetcorn, mozzarella, pasta, tuna ?Fresh fruits - ?Nuts, peanuts, pistachios etc Suitable for older children and adults only as they can represent a choking hazard to young children and babies ?Cheeses - there is whole world of cheeses to choose from now why not let your children choose some new ones to try.
Drinks ?plain water ?plain milk ?Why not make your own "diluting juice" with fresh Fruit juiced and diluted at least 1 part to six in water. Remember not to add any sugar.
For the younger members of the family, why not involve your children in making some of these things? You never know you may have a budding Jamie Oliver or Delia in your family and not even know it. As ever moderation is the key as some of the low risk snacks for decay can have higher fat or salt contents so a good balance is always advisable.
Keep a special eye open when choosing supposedly sugar free items from shops. If the label says No added sugar ? then the product still contains sugar and will most likely cause decay. To be totally safe the food needs to be marked ? Sugar Free.
Do not try and revolutionize your families diet, just take it bit at a time and the small changes can really add up and lead to a healthier body and a healthier mouth and smile.
Candy, cakes, cookies, soda and other sugary foods may taste great but can cause problems with your teeth. Most children consume far too many foods and drinks filled with sugars and starches. Starches are also the villains of tooth decay since they break down into sugars quickly and have a similar effect on tooth enamel as do sugars.
Per the Federal Citizen Information center, the average American consumes 147 pounds of sugar per year. That's a lot of potential trouble for not only the teeth but one's overall health as well.
Luckily many of the guidelines that deal with general health also help in protecting your teeth and the teeth of your children from the ravages of normal snack choices and oral hygiene.
One question is; why are sugars so dangerous to our teeth? Bacteria live in everyone's mouth all the time. These bacteria form a sticky material called plaque which coats the surface of your teeth. When the bacteria come in contact with sugar the bacteria grab the sugar and turn it into acids. These acids are so powerful that they begin eating away at the enamel that is the outer layer of your teeth. This is how cavities get started. If you don't consume sugar or foods that turn into sugar in your mouth the bacteria can't produce as much enamel-dissolving acid.
Before you start eating a snack or give one to your child, ask yourself what's in the food you have chosen. Is it loaded with sugar? If you don't know, find out. Ask a friend or look it up. If it is filled with sugar take a look at your other options. Perhaps another food is available that will be healthier for your teeth and the rest of your body. You always have choices. Also keep in mind that certain types of sweets are worse for your teeth than others. Sticky and gooey snacks stick to your teeth for a longer period of time than foods you chew and swallow quickly. The longer the sugary food or drink stays on your teeth the more time it has to work with the bacteria and wear away at the teeth's enamel.
Another factor to consider is how often during the day you eat or drink sugary snacks. Do you sip on soda or sweet treats throughout the day? Or do you save them for dessert after lunch or dinner? The damaging acids form in your mouth every time you consume sugar. The acids then continue to affect your teeth for at least twenty minutes before they are neutralized. The more times you eat sugary snacks during the day the worse it is for your teeth. One of the worst things you can do is to sip on a sugary beverage all day.
If you do eat sweets it's always best to eat them as dessert after your main meal of the mail and then brush your teeth as soon as possible.
Snacking throughout the day is great idea as long as you choose foods low in sugar and high in nutritional content. Vegetables, fresh fruits, cheese, whole-grain crackers and nuts are all snacks which are better for you and your teeth.
By paying a little attention to the snacks we eat we can do wonders for our oral and overall health.
Both Fraser J Hendrie & Dr. Susan Wells are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
Fraser J Hendrie has sinced written about articles on various topics from Dental Practice, Fitness and Bad Breath. Fraser Hendrie has worked as a Dentist in Edinburgh since 1995. For More Information Visit:-