Health Snacking for Good Teeth!!

 We're all lovers of sweets. We eat a lot of sweets, despite the fact that we are all aware that sweets harm our teeth.

What's the big deal with sugary snacks, anyway?

Sugary foods are delicious, but they are bad for your teeth and health. Candy, cakes, cookies, and other sweet foods that children enjoy between meals can lead to dental damage. Sugary foods include a lot of fat as well. Sugary snack eaters ingest a variety of sugars on a daily basis, including table sugar (sucrose) and maize sweeteners (fructose). Once in your mouth, starchy foods can also break down into sugars.

Sugars damage your teeth in a variety of ways.

Bacteria, which are invisible pathogens, are always present in your mouth. On the surface of the teeth, some of these bacteria create plaque, a sticky substance. When you put sugar in your mouth, the bacteria in your plaque eat it up and convert it to acids. These acids have the ability to destroy the strong enamel that protects your teeth. Cavities thus form in this manner. If you don't eat a lot of sugar, your bacteria won't be able to create as much acid, which eats away at your enamel.

How can one "snack smart" and avoid tooth decay?

Ask yourself what's in the snack you've picked before you start eating it. Is there a lot of sugar in it? If that's the case, reconsider. A different option would be healthier for your teeth. Also, keep in mind that some types of sweets are more harmful than others. Sweets that are gooey or chewy stay to the surface of your teeth for longer. Sticky snacks offer your teeth a longer sugar bath since they linger in your mouth longer than meals that you rapidly chew and swallow.

You should also consider how often and when you consume snacks. Do you eat sugary snacks frequently during the day, or do you save dessert until after dinner? When you eat a sweet snack, damaging acids develop in your tongue. Before the acids are neutralized and can no longer hurt your teeth, they continue to impact them for at least 20 minutes. As a result, the more sugary snacks you eat throughout the day, the more bacteria you feed the fuel they need to develop tooth decay.

If you like sweets, have them as a dessert after a major meal rather than snacking on them throughout the day. After eating sweets — at any meal or snack — clean your teeth thoroughly with a fluoride toothpaste.

Consider the following while choosing snacks:

●    How many times a day do you eat sugary snacks?

●    How long do you think the sweet meal will linger in your mouth?

●    The sweet food's texture

Choose a snack that is low in sugar and fat if you are snacking after school, before bedtime, or at other times during the day. There are plenty of delightful, satisfying snacks that are less damaging to your teeth — and the rest of your body — than sugary, low-nutrient meals. Snack wisely!

Low-fat options include raw veggies, fresh fruits, and whole-grain crackers or toast. It is possible to prevent tooth decay and other illnesses by eating the correct meals. Choose a snack from the list inside or create your own menu of non-sugary, low-fat snack items from the fundamental food categories the next time you seek for a snack.

Tips to Remember:

●    Sugary meals should be consumed in moderation.

●    Between meals, stay away from sweets.

●    Consume a wide range of low-fat or fat-free meals from the basic dietary groups.

●    After snacks and meals, brush your teeth with fluoride toothpaste.