Many of our patients commonly ask us what they can do at home to benefit their dental health. Beyond brushing and flossing regularly, maintaining a healthy diet is one of the best things you can do for your smile. As your trusted family dentist in Peachtree City, GA, we wanted to provide a helpful list of snacks worthy of keeping around the house. Here are our top three smile-friendly, dentist-approved snacks:
Cheese
Cheese is a great snack for your smile. Not only is it full of calcium, which your teeth need to maintain their strength and growth patterns, but it is also soft and easy to chew. Easy to chew snacks are essential to keep around the house because they are less likely to cause dental damage like crunchy snacks. If you suffer from chronic jaw pain or a TMJ disorder, you should try to reduce your intake of crunchy snacks, especially when you are experiencing these symptoms. Instead of a bowl of potato chips, try reaching for string cheese, cubed cheese, or sliced cheese to munch on throughout the day. It’s easier on the jawbone, and delicious too!
Fruit Smoothies
Fruit smoothies are a fun snack to make for the entire family. You can include any kind of fruit in your smoothie, but we have some suggestions. Try adding in strawberries and kiwis. These fruits contain high amounts of calcium, vitamin C, and fiber which are all great for your dental health. Vitamin C is one of the most important vitamins to maintain in your diet for your dental health. This is because it helps your mouth fight off gum disease, which is one of the most common dental concerns we see in our office. Try adding in a dollop of yogurt in your smoothie as well for added calcium as well as a creamier texture.
Assorted Nuts
We understand that sometimes you might crave a crunchy snack. To help satisfy this craving, we recommend assorted nuts. Nuts like almonds, walnuts, and cashews are a great source of necessary vitamins and minerals that your smile needs to maintain its health. Additionally, nuts help with saliva production. Saliva production is especially important because it is what keeps your mouth moist and able to wash away residues left behind on your teeth from previous meals.
At Linton Dental, we strive to help our patients with all aspects of their dental health. Schedule an appointment with Dr. Brian Linton today for more information on what you can do at home to better your dental health.